Swamp Bees Build Huge Hive Out In The Open

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I mention in the video that I rarely see open-air honey bee colonies but that @JPthebeeman sees them quite regularly. Although this was inside Mississippi it was close to the Louisiana border and nearer to @JeffHorchoff and @MikeBarryBees who see larger hives than we typically do in Mississippi. This was big enough to write home about though.
The bee suit in this video comes from @guardianbeeapparel1036 guardianbeeapparel.com/
The pictures at the end of the video are from a recent getaway weekend to New Orleans where we joined a group of professional photographers who were down from St Louis and invited us to join in on their city walks. These are a few of the 300 or so shots Elizabeth took. I shot a little over 700 photos and will include some of mine in a later video.
Music sourced through Epidemic Sound
Early Bloomer - Magnus Ludvigsson

[@628DirtRooster]

We still have hoodies in most sizes. 628-dirt-rooster.myshopify.com/collections/all

[@patrickvanhoesen9425]

You ever have any honey from bees that mainly feed on hemp plants?? Is it really any better?

[@628DirtRooster]

@@patrickvanhoesen9425 Hemp plants don't produce nectar.

[@Rgross27]

WOW, DirtRooster, I am a fan and I REALLY enjoyed the jazz song at the end. LOVED it. Thanks again and stay safe and always watching here in Michigan. Loved that song......This was a very enjoying episode to watch. Did I say I loved that song at the end.....

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks for hanging out with us for a few minutes Ryan. Had to use jazz for the New Orleans pics. Anything else wouldn't be right. haha

[@Rgross27]

@@628DirtRooster Amen to that brother. Stay safe and keep em coming and always watching here in Michigan...

[@YappyBeeman]

One of my all time favorite hives to remove. Unless they arev2 stories above my head...great fun though for sure you had there! Other than the pissyness

[@628DirtRooster]

I know where there's another one we could go get. :)

[@kareno8634]

*Most Lovely place, of Heaven!* Love Woods, Water, Swamp, just like Home. As 'Comfortable' as "sitting in" your truck. Naaaa, No Way, sitting among Bees is Better. Had an Open Hive here among Hedge for around 6 months. ... They moved. Artzy Photos, Elizabeth, Thanks. I recognized a few places. Music fits.

[@628DirtRooster]

Yep, among the bees is better. :)

[@joanneganon7157]

Hey Randy,I've never seen a Honey Bee Hive open like that, interesting 🤔. Nice to see yah 😊. JO JO IN VT

[@628DirtRooster]

I was relieved to find it. I was expecting to have to disassemble soffit based on the owner's description.

[@Starrynightdiner]

Is it just me or did anyone else close their eyes and duck when that comb fell towards the camera?😮

[@T-BEEZY]

Thanks Randy!

[@628DirtRooster]

Yes sir! :)

[@bradgoliphant]

This is great. Open hives are so exposed to every threat. Thx for helping them out.

[@628DirtRooster]

It was a treat.

[@maryjane-rx4sq]

Loved it. One of your best videos. I liked the pictures and appreciate when you include Elizabeth.

[@628DirtRooster]

I'm thankful when she comes along.

[@joegilly1523]

Been missing me some 628 dirt rooster,and here it is thank you.

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks so much Joe.

[@donnabaker5096]

I enjoy your videos so much. I have just discovered bee keeping and i am so very taken with the process. I feel you stand out because youre a natural on video, very thorough about explaining your process of removing bees. I so enjoy your pics as well. My daddy was from Louisiana, and seeing your pics today brought it all back. Thank you.

[@J_Westbrook]

Yoo Randy!! Have a great day pal!

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks J. Same to you.

[@American-Jello]

"You say they're all females?" "You can't tell by the way they act?" My boyfriend would have loved that remark HAHAHAHA!! I can't even deny that it's funny and because it's kinda accurate lol

[@jodyreeder4820]

So pretty, woodlands.

[@628DirtRooster]

Beautiful spot out there.

[@Jim1Tom]

Have not seen you for a while.. Some of us don't have meta.. At least me.. Great to see you!

[@tommychew6544]

Me either, it's KZbin or nothin' for me.

[@628DirtRooster]

We've been busy and I haven't put much out lately. Thanks for checking in.

[@628DirtRooster]

KZbin is my favorite platform.

[@Fleetsuper]

Wow, talk about a house off the beaten path, very private and gorgeous area. And as always loved the photos!

[@628DirtRooster]

It was a bit of a drive to get to that one.

[@ECP]

Looking good brother…. Great video….

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks for the visit ECP! Hope all is well with y'all.

[@kathydoyle9939]

Sits on a porch, surrounded by flying "stingers", talking as though nothing is wrong ... your nightmares must be terrifying! 🐝 🐝 🐝 Well done!

[@628DirtRooster]

LOL I have one nightmare every ten years whether I need one or not.

[@tomsuelyblaisdell]

Stingers don't hurt if they don't get into your skin.

[@mikelambrecht7267]

Nice to see you....

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Mike

[@brendaphillips1022]

I always love watching you all save bees. You had me at double bacon 🥓.

[@628DirtRooster]

LOL

[@Swarmstead]

There he is!

[@628DirtRooster]

Making a comeback

[@markturner947]

I really don't remember much about my grandfather as he passed away when I was very young. I am now an old man, haha. I do remember that he kept bees however, and he removed hives for people. My grandmother told me that he once removed a hive like this from the Macon County Court House in Tuskegee Alabama. They lived in Macon County but way out in the country. It supposedly was huge ! I hadn't thought of this in years .

[@628DirtRooster]

That's funny. My mom's dad, who passed away when I was two, kept bees and I didn't find out until a few years ago when my mom told a story about her dad's bees killing his favorite hunting dog. I always thought we were the first in the family to keep bees.

[@RoseMaryBowen]

Love watching your videos. Also love the pictures at the end. You always capture things that others might overlook, but are interesting to see. Thanks. ❤️😊🐝🍯

[@628DirtRooster]

I'll show mine in another video. Those were Elizabeth's.

[@KajunHomestead]

That was a another great video Randy , tell your wife she had some really awesome shots at the end of the video.

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks brother. She was surprised I used her pictures. She didn't think they were all that good. I thought they were though.

[@kasie680]

Oh wow it’s so pretty!

[@richardpraeger6357]

Thank you for the great video

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Richard. Y'all ready for spring?

[@richardpraeger6357]

@@628DirtRooster We're getting there. Seems like I'm always running a month behind.

[@jacquecaeser9078]

That’s a beautiful part of our country!

[@boboften9952]

Wise move to hang swarm traps in the place where the Bees have built the cones Make it so that all you have to do is slide out a swarm box , ..... slide in a swarm box .... rinse , wash , repeat I would do this as it reduces the chance of being stung . Maybe four swarm boxes ..... different heights placements " they love the cedar smell , them Bees " Good Luck Sir

[@628DirtRooster]

This would be a great house to trap at. It's just too far from home to monitor and the owner is rarely out there.

[@fatjaysgarage]

You are a cool dude been watching for a few years. Great content brother 👌

[@628DirtRooster]

I appreciate that!

[@richardgrumpywelsh2485]

Another great viideo, thanks for sharing

[@628DirtRooster]

My pleasure Grumpy. You doing good?

[@kittyk7027]

I'm glad when you add a little bit of ASMR with you driving in these videos. I know you dont do it on purpose but its still nice.

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@michaelfike7542]

That would be a guaranteed swarm catching place for sure. Just don't tell MR. EDD 🤭❤️🐝👍

[@628DirtRooster]

Heck, he's probably going to take credit for this catch.

[@Phronsias1]

Good to see you back!!!

[@628DirtRooster]

Good to be back

[@SteverRob]

We used to get our shrimp from a fella selling shrimp at the Super C. Glad they survived the mess after Katrina.

[@628DirtRooster]

They hung in there until last year. Mr. Rick sold the place. Buzzy stayed on to run the kitchen.

[@crocheting-around-the-planet]

I really love watching you 🐝 savers…I do miss JP so much…Hope he’s ok…? God Bless you all 🙏🏼

[@628DirtRooster]

JP is good. I think he might be permanently retired from KZbin though.

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

@@628DirtRooster aww is he tired of making vids or was KZbin being a ….pest

[@628DirtRooster]

@@timbervalleyhomestead I can't really get a good read but I think he's just lost interest or motivation or something as far as making videos. He's still doing bee removals though.

[@loricrane5315]

Watching his videos got me interested in watching more. He's so calm with people as well as bee's.

[@sonofthunder.]

great captures edit,and hive catch

[@judyblommaert602]

Thanks for posting again. Missed them.

[@628DirtRooster]

Hope to get more out soon.

[@murpheybees]

Those Guardian Bee Apparel jackets are the best!!

[@628DirtRooster]

They are a great option for sure.

[@sandiebrecken1897]

Always love watching your videos

[@628DirtRooster]

I appreciate you Sandie

[@evonnewhalen9794]

Awesome video. Beautiful scenery. Thank you for sharing your adventures and videos.

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Evonne

[@kevinwilson8328]

lovely scenics and music. Always a pleasure. Love the relaxed vibe of your cutouts.

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Kevin

[@randlerichardson5826]

I’d say the skeeters 🦟 thick and huge there great video Rooster GOD BLESS y’all Amen 🙏

[@628DirtRooster]

They didn't get on me that day but I'll bet they are rough in the summer.

[@maryjanebeatty6030]

Love watching you take down the open air colony this morning. That house was really tucked into the woods. Beautiful scenery! I hope everyone is well with your family:). Thanks for sharing this morning, it’s nice to see your notification!

[@628DirtRooster]

As Pete would say, "that house was so far in the woods you could hear the banjos".

[@marycountry]

Great video and photography, thank you👍🏻❤️

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@horizontalbees3480]

So amazing seeing a open air colony!! Looks like they had more space to build but the swarmed anyway. Interesting 🤔!!!!

[@alexisgrunden1556]

If I had to guess, I'd say they guessed they felt that a new swarm at those times would stand an excellent chance of surviving (good weather, high nectar flows). It's not just about the colony's survival, but about spreading your genes into the next generations and the world; that's the Great Game all animals play. Darwinism at its finest~

[@628DirtRooster]

Make you wonder why they would deplete resources by throwing a swarm late summer. It was a heathy colony still but not much stored up for winter.

[@alexisgrunden1556]

@@628DirtRooster Maybe earlier in the season, conditions had been less ideal? It's very possible they were making the best out of a bad situation. _Queen Bee:_ 'Our colony may not survive this winter...but hopefully, at least one of my daughters' will.' sometimes, there are no good options; you can only choose the least-bad one~

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Thanks for bringing in a little bit of summer into winter!

[@628DirtRooster]

You bet! Any time Rodney. :)

[@thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924]

They are a thing of beauty. Great video! Thanks for sharing

[@628DirtRooster]

That's how southern bees do. They build for beauty. They don't pay much attention to production. haha

[@thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924]

@@628DirtRooster haha

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

Very interesting. I admire your calm stoic approach.

[@628DirtRooster]

Gotta stay calm. Erratic movements cause the bees to come after you more.

[@egparis18]

Thank you very much for sharing this. Great pics from Elizabeth. Some corners of New Orleans look just like Paris. Love to all and see you soon.

[@628DirtRooster]

That was in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

[@GEInman]

Thanks for your great work!. Thankful you connected w/ the Hornet King!

[@628DirtRooster]

Hornet King is the best!

[@SecureAcresNaturalBees]

Born on the Bayou!

[@628DirtRooster]

Ha! Good old song.

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Mug up from NH. You southern guys get to see all the cool stuff, nothing but snow and ice up here. Bees are clustered tight. Enjoying some of that strong Coastal grove honey. Thanks for posting. Peace, Brice

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks for all your support Brice. Enjoy that snow. Maybe we'll get to play in some one day.

[@khraila_RockyRillFarm_Apiary]

Beautiful hive

[@628DirtRooster]

They definitely built a nice one.

[@private8394]

Great content man! That was really cool to see the bees fighting, real interesting.

[@curiousone6129]

It would be worth the trip all the way from Virginia for double bacon and cheese grits 💖 Beautiful photos. I love the compositions!

[@628DirtRooster]

Breakfast of champions

[@johnthomas1970]

I enjoy you and your fellow Y-T Louisiana beekeeper videos. I am thinking about getting into it up here in NC. My family's company made the New Orleans streetcar in your wife's photo at minute 21 in your video, one of 100 ordered in 1923. I have the seat plan blueprint for that order framed on my office wall.

[@628DirtRooster]

I've got some great streetcar photos from over there but I've never ridden in one.

[@kevinogden4363]

Bet the skeeters are bad there!

[@628DirtRooster]

In the summer they'll probably carry you away.

[@dcsblessedbees]

I'd say them bees done got out right mad.

[@628DirtRooster]

They were showing no mercy

[@donbearden1953]

Randy, cool video! I’ve only seen one open aired colony in person. I helped someone rescue it for relocation. A man has to be careful standing at the bottom of a ladder while watching someone take down an open colony because I got hit in my eye 3 times with comb just while watching you take this one down! lol. That was cool!

[@628DirtRooster]

HAHAHAHA! I should have put a warning on the video.

[@beaverc2884]

In the beginning the way the comb was arranged and the bees were in a perfect ball it was actually beautiful. I learn something new in every video, thank you Randy. 😊

[@628DirtRooster]

They were balled up tight on this one trying to keep warm.

[@colleenmurphy1333]

Hey 628 dirt rooster wish she would do a collaboration with Yappy, Jp, Mister Ed and good time Charlie, hornet king and of course your sidekick Pete, need some laughs over here in Canada🇨🇦

[@628DirtRooster]

There may be another Hornet King collaboration later this year.

[@poorhouseracing]

We're going to give super-c a try when we make a trip down there in March. My step daughter lives in Gulfport down by the beach and we visit her several times a year but have never ventured to the super-c area.

[@seedsandarrowsfrontier9224]

You cant get any better than this

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

Great job Randy! I’ve never seen an open air colony, but good stuff! Take care

[@628DirtRooster]

They are neat but they don't normally make it through fall.

[@Cryocide]

When bees just have no f’s left to give

[@628DirtRooster]

That's the way it be sometimes.

[@darrylweartpipingancamping]

Thank you for the great video! Hope you can set up some hives in that natural area. Great still photos too.

[@mbgal7758]

They sure didn’t like you fooling with them. Seems like open air hives are always pretty cranky.

[@628DirtRooster]

Like yanking the sheets off someone on a cold morning. haha

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Great video Randy . I would really love to see a video on how the heck to get a bee jacket clean . I think I could stand my jackets up in the corner . Hope family is doing well. Keep your video’s coming. THANKS

[@628DirtRooster]

Great suggestion!

[@cynvision]

My boxes are on a swamp turned into an effluent field for the first sewer company to improve the area. I can't say it's perfect because they probably deal with a lot of humidity but I do expect there is something to gather at more times of the year.

[@tommychew6544]

Thanks for the video! The shot of you standing by that little jalopy van thing was funny, Mr Ed is about the only person that looks like he would be small enough to fit inside there.

[@628DirtRooster]

I leaned on it and it almost turned over.

[@randlerichardson5826]

Be safe out there Rooster and GOD BLESS you are your family brother Amen 🙏

[@628DirtRooster]

God bless you as well Randle.

[@Grandma_Lori]

Let's do this! Found you via a "shout out" from the HORNET KING. I love his content, which surprised me. He highly recommended your channel, so here I am.

[@628DirtRooster]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for tuning in.

[@deanmacka4975]

Mate us Aussie's just sent a plan load of honey bees over to you guys . There first stop is at the California almond orchard they are bug free Aussie bees to the rescue 😀

[@khraila_RockyRillFarm_Apiary]

Yum, cheese’n’grits

[@onespiceybbw]

You can say that again!

[@628DirtRooster]

At least once a week.

[@Eric-gi9kg]

Last year, I waited to long to get a guardian suit. NOT this year...just ordered a suit and gloves.

[@628DirtRooster]

I really like their gloves. Haven't found any that fit me better.

[@cjf76]

It was nice to meet you and your wife in New Orleans. We got some amazing pictures while we were there. I see some of our friends in the pictures.

[@628DirtRooster]

We had a blast over there. I can't believe I walked eight miles in one day. I got some good shots out of it though. Might be in St Louis later this year.

[@cjf76]

@@628DirtRooster I wouldn't even know where to begin counting the miles we walked lol. It's an amazing city and we had a blast exploring. It would be great to see you guys if you make it to town.

[@doak4886]

I know it doesn’t help you one bit but I enjoyed and giggled every single time they nailed you. I know it’s evil but I just get tickled every time a big old boy like me falls, hits his head, or gets hammered by something a lot smaller than him.

[@628DirtRooster]

Someone else's pain is usually funny to me too.

[@doak4886]

@@628DirtRooster Being big and clumsy, people have been laughing at me for a long time.

[@carlsledge3868]

When your the only structure at the end of a road and utilities right of way you're a swarm magnet. all my swarms have come from a power line like the one you showed driving out. lol I left the trap up last fall thinking a super late swarm or abscound might find it, about a week ago I went to take it down and clean it up and get it ready for this year's swarm season and found 6 young flying squirrels living inside it, I guess I'll make them a smaller box and transfer them to it so I can move them, they are some cute little fukers, but they can't have my lucky trap and best spot. my daughter wanted to cage em and try and make pets, I told no they're to old for that.

[@628DirtRooster]

I had a flying squirrel that I bought from a kid at school when I was in 8th grade. He brought it to school in a coffee can. I think I had it for about a week before I lost it in the house. We found it, or it's skeleton, a couple of years later inside one of my winter gloves.

[@josephrawls]

Why does the easy ones have to be so hard?😆 Love the pics of old New Orleans.

[@628DirtRooster]

I know. They made me carry a ladder all the way around the house and up stairs and then attacked me while I worked. lol

[@grace_wins.]

I loved how you tried to break up the bee fight! Lol my dad used to put his cap on a coffee can and then run it through the dishwasher to clean it...he was a logger. I never have forgotten that though and it sure works well! Then he would just take the whole thing out and let it air dry on the can. Pretty cool! Love the bees and your vids!

[@628DirtRooster]

Someone else told me they clean their hat in the dish washer. Must work pretty good.

[@sandygriffin1898]

Thanks for the pictures. I really like the cemeteries. I find them fascinating.

[@628DirtRooster]

There are plenty to tour in New Orleans.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

That’s a nice size colony. I’ve never seen a open colony like that here in Oklahoma. It’s amazing what they do. Beautiful area on the river. Thanks for the video. Take care.

[@628DirtRooster]

They're a rare thing here. I was lucky to find this one.

[@BugFarmerBees]

Great video as always. Loved the pics and the smooth Jazz. My wife wants to know what hair Gel your wife uses? It must be a chick thing. 🙂

[@628DirtRooster]

She uses Aussie Instant Freeze Mousse. It's in a purple can.

[@stanheeres3218]

"I may need to suit up." 10 stings later...

[@628DirtRooster]

That's how we roll Stan. :)

[@birdnest5814]

Hello DirtRooster👋

[@628DirtRooster]

Hey Birdnest

[@MBW4449]

Bee careful!

[@628DirtRooster]

Sure will, thanks.

[@loricrane5315]

That looks yummy.

[@pkorns1892]

Anyone else duck when those first combs came down?? Lol

[@628DirtRooster]

Haha

[@LANEZZ-jv5ok]

Ok. I see you changed it😆

[@angelalott9370]

Look good

[@LawsonsCreekApiary]

Great video as always, Randy. I'd love to find an open air hive like that.

[@628DirtRooster]

I've only personally see one that was bigger but I didn't record my work back then.

[@dlyall26]

I seen that Mary Kay car at that gas station lol they are all over the US

[@628DirtRooster]

Old girl has been selling. :)

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

Ha ha ha Mr Rooster…. “They are all female”……. Can’t you tell by how they act” I cackled cause yes us little women especially are firecrackers

[@628DirtRooster]

That's a fact. haha

[@NATURALBEEKEEPERSCOLLECTIVE]

I think the open air colonies are when they find a site that is to far away for the queen to travel and they build half way inbetween a temporary place. Probably not in all cases though. What makes me think this is we found an open air colony on some branches with at least 3 largish combs and when we went back a week later all the bees had gone and the comb was empty. That same week we had a call out of some bees arriving in some ones farm house attic 2 miles from the site. This is a remote farming area and the nearest Bee keeper are about 6 miles away. probs back in 2003

[@garyRt23Bees]

In hive boxes, bees GPS to a specific entrance. Even if you lift the lid and have the top open, they will still return to the entrance they know. I wonder if open air hives have a specific sot they land on or do they just land anywhere? Man the things I think of ! LOLOLOL

[@628DirtRooster]

They kind of land all over. I assume each individual comes back in at the point they left but I really don't know.

[@jennr7500]

Did Elizabeth get breakfast and you get the double? Maybe I was looking away and missed it. I thought w the position of the two blue shots (light followed by hair) was great. And when you stopped by the swamp I hoped we got to see whatever you were shooting. Yay! You showed the pics! I always watch with a hint of nostalgia bc I helped with bees and an apiary store sometimes waaay back. I’m curious if you’ll get to place bees in that location. Wonder if hives there would call yo the bees more than the soffit. Enjoyed the vid as always. Thanks. I need to check your merch … see what’s for sale and get me a beenie (wo the prop on top). Same commenter as on IG on that one. 😂

[@628DirtRooster]

I had to take her breakfast to her at work but we did get our bacon and grits. :)

[@wranther]

Interesting hive recovery Randy. Didnt even need tear into ceilings or walls or vaulted spaces. You going back up in one of them person lifts to capture the upper hive? Or are those people lifts down your neck of the woods? Got to hand it to you and your wife both, for taking some very neat and clean pictures across a diverse reach of reality. -Bob...

[@628DirtRooster]

Hi Bob I was supposed to get back with him over the winter on that upper hive but life (family health issues) got in the way. I'll be contacting him this week to see if I can set some swarm traps out there to at least try and keep the swarms off the soffits until we can remove the hive.

[@wranther]

@@628DirtRooster I could see why your hobby could be so enjoyable! Those little critters do have their way of living as they often want. There must be some good swamp legends to come out of those pictures too!

[@tomsuelyblaisdell]

You said Oct, the date stamp shows 8 days ago. Glad you had a nice rest before uploading, 🤔😄

[@628DirtRooster]

Heck I upload videos that are years old sometimes. :)

[@tomsuelyblaisdell]

@@628DirtRooster this doesn't surprise me.

[@turdferguson5300]

This has nothing to do with bees but more to do with double bacon. Jerry and I were sent to a conference at Trump's Doral Resort in Miami. That place separates the millionaires from the billionaires, we were fish out of water. That Saturday we were sitting around one of the pools were we ordered lunch. We both ordered bacon cheeseburgers and the waitress ask "oh do you want bacon on that"? I said "I don't know how y'all roll in south Florida but you're lookin at two fat boys from south Tennessee and the question isn't do we want bacon its do we want extra bacon and yes mam we do. Jerry got such a laugh, he never forgot that. He passed away this month in his sleep. RIP ole buddy. Those rich fellas liked their European sportscars in black, white, or red, and fake boobies. I like trucks and real boobies so that confirms I wasn't cutout for that life style. I don't even think you could get one of those Ferraris up to the barn. I don't know what it'd haul if you got it there. lol

[@628DirtRooster]

Ha! Great story. I've been to a few of those fancy places. I don't really fit in.

[@hubertwebb9869]

You said that this home would continue to attract bees because of the Propolis on the wood. Isn't it just a bees wax plus that could be pressure washed off with hot water?❤❤❤❤

[@628DirtRooster]

Propolis is not bee's wax and won't pressure wash off. It's in the grain and cracks and is very tough to cover up.