The Bees Every Beekeeper Wants

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We routinely run across easy going honey bees in our swarm catches and hive removals as most European varieties are pretty docile but these particular bees were laid back to the extreme. Most of the bees we relocate are Italian or some mix with Italian. There are several reasons for this but without deep diving into that issue I'll say that most of the feral honey bees in North America are Italian bees. Our nucs that we sell have queens grafted from Italian "breeder" queens. They are grafted local to us and mated on our apiaries or within an hour of our house so it's safe to say when someone asks what bees we have for sale they are Italian.
Breeder queens are typically lab inseminated with semen sourced from a known genetic line. They are very expensive, usually three hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand dollars per queen, but they guarantee that you are getting the attitude, health and production you are looking for or accustomed to running. Some years I end up with a hand full of old breeder queens that are being phased out for age. I usually just run them in production hives or make splits off them just like normal. Last year I had eight of them and gave them away except for two which are in some hives that I over wintered this past winter. I'll be making splits with those and letting the old queens continue to work on my yard until they play out.
apimaye-usa.com/ for insulated hive bodies and beekeeping equipment.
@MikeBarryBees @stevensbeeco767 @ApimayeTV @brucesbees @thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924 @CastleHives @JeffHorchoff @BeekeepingWithNatalee @TheCaliforniaBeekeeper @NaturesImageFarmGregBurns

[@FrederickDunn]

Annnd we're still freezing and raining up here. That was fun to watch, Randy! Oh man, what a great natural comb! Such a nice colony. I think you're going to enjoy that Apimaye hive. So they build out that free-form comb late in the year? Nice. I hope you have a fantastic year, what a great start!

[@628DirtRooster]

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Apimaye equipment performs down here. I have ten of their bottoms on hives already and I'm about to modify the entrances on them. I was looking at them today watching bees use gaps in the boxes rather than the Apimaye entrance. I think I'm going to cut off the individual bee entrances and see if that changes their behavior. Sure would like some of that cold weather. Talk to you soon.

[@elli637]

I am gonna be a beekeeper this spring, I am being mentored by a sweet lady with 30 hives, and we kind your videos about a month ago and we’re gonna watching them all. I want to learn how to craft queens. I’m painting my hive and learning everything I can for when my bees arrive. So excited.

[@628DirtRooster]

Chris Kinser makes those hive tools. His email is [e-mail]

[@williamkn621]

Such nice calm bees... I need some

[@628DirtRooster]

You'll get spoiled working these.

[@williamkn621]

@@628DirtRooster true. And since my other texes bees are all spicy. I guess I'll have to stick with spicy

[@vlunceford]

I’d love to see a follow up on these bees! I’m way small-time and am currently down to 1 very strong colony. They were untouched for at least a year while my husband and I were separately undergoing treatment for cancer. I went through the box last week and they look great and are reasonably docile, all things considered. I need to move them because we have to take down a dead tree right next to the hive and I’m thinking I’ll put the on the northwest side of my greenhouse. There are big pecan trees that knock out most of the afternoon sun and I’m going to be planting vines and elderberries that will provide additional shade from the hot Georgia sun. They aren’t quite as strong as your colony in this video but I’m hopeful of getting at least 1 split for the time being. I thought I was out of the bee business there for a while but I’m hopeful of rebuilding to 3-5 colonies this year. I enjoy your videos. They’re aways entertaining and I always learn something! 🐝

[@garyRt23Bees]

I am glad I do not have issues with beetles here.

[@628DirtRooster]

You're very fortunate

[@christianshannon3943]

Hey you should add a second box with drawn comb before splitting. Bring up two frames of brood into that top box . This would give the queen a lot of room to lay out a couple frames of empty comb . This would make it a cinch to grab a whole frame of eggs and larvae. Here in Prince George, Virginia I’ve had to add a third box on four hives . Once our weather gets into a consistent warmer spell then I can make a bunch of five frame splits.

[@628DirtRooster]

I would have had to do that a little earlier. I split them a couple of days after this video

[@egparis18]

Wishing you all the sweet-tempered bees you can find frames for, DirtRooster. Love from Paris to you and yours and see you soon.

[@628DirtRooster]

Thank you so much! Wishing you blessings as well.

[@curiousone6129]

When you aren't talking, we can hear the buzzing of the bees. KZbin has a pop up in the corner of the screen indicating "music". Those bees must be singing!

[@micahestep7679]

Sounds like you got a hold of some of Don's Sweet as Peaches Bees. I have a few colonies that don't sting as well 😊.

[@628DirtRooster]

Wonderful Bees took about 13,000 grafts off this queen this year. I'm proud of that.

[@hackiehackerson]

I appreciate you. so much on social media is stupid, makes me mad as hell, or is sad. the combination of your videos, cool photos, and your calm demeanor makes a great coffee break. thanks

[@micahestep7679]

Nice brood pattern!

[@TheCaliforniaBeekeeper]

Always great when you can work a hive with no gloves or hear. Thanks for sharing the fun Randy🤙

[@628DirtRooster]

Gloves just mess me up. Haha

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Mug up from NH where we have 2' of snow on the ground with over a foot coming tomorrow. No flowers blooming here. Great to see that colony doing well. This is the hardest month for bees up here. Maples will start blooming around here the middle to the end of this month. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!

[@sonofthunder.]

nice brood,calm demeanor, best wishes on the split

[@628DirtRooster]

Fingers crossed

[@matthunt4512]

I so appreciate your videos and the education you provide for your subscribers; not to mention the humor you provide for free. God Bless you and your family my friend

[@628DirtRooster]

You are so welcome and God bless you too.

[@robinfrazier7922]

Those live small peppermint canes change keeps The Beatles down

[@cynvision]

Yep. My new favorite bees at the club are ones that turned two disposable beetle traps into super traps with a Brushy Mtn. 0 clearance inner cover. Felt bad breaking the jails.

[@elli637]

Where did you get that tool, so cool. You are a bee genius.

[@4bdennis]

send some of those to East Tennessee in April 😀

[@lizrd4me2]

That was a calm box of bees!

[@CrazyIvan865]

I'm about to start my beekeeping journey. I have a crazy crackpot theory that with the right state of mine. And music or singing, one can retire the smoker that just stresses them out and makes them fearful and anxious. My great grandmother, and great-great grandmother were Cherokee and they didn't "keep" bees. They had a giant log next to a stump out in the woods. They'd go and sit and sing to the bees until a couple landed on their hands for them to pet them. When they were done with their "Indian witches" song they'd reach back in that log and break off a chunk of the honey comb and take it with them unscathed.

[@henryparrott2447]

Once again Great job my hero 👏

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Henry

[@craigkirich9646]

Great to finally meet you at HL. You started me down this questionable road ;) Here in in the suburbs if I don't see puppy dog eyes looking up at me, they got to go...Well the queen anyways...

[@628DirtRooster]

Yes, I like seeing them lined up on the frames checking me out. Hive Life was a blast wasn't it?

[@craigkirich9646]

@@628DirtRooster Yeah can't wait for next year, glad to see he's shopping a new venue. Found that hidden award winning restaurant ;) Dinner next year? It's a gem, so "keeping it secret, keepin it safe" :)

[@taylorboysoutdoors]

Yep, I'd say they calm as a cucumber

[@628DirtRooster]

Laid back like a Cadillac Sunday drive

[@jamescohn4268]

How often, if ever, do you run into a killer bee hive for cutout? Love this channel! Greetings from Texas!

[@628DirtRooster]

In over a thousand jobs I’ve never encountered them.

[@jamescohn4268]

@@628DirtRooster glad to hear that I pray you never do!

[@kennethsiler9503]

I enjoy watching you and Miss trade specially you and I would love to have a bruise those came be like that

[@micahestep7679]

Mr Ed is right. Your equipment is definitely well used. It's........unique shall we say? You always say bees like old equipment but dang it boy!

[@628DirtRooster]

Just proving my point. ;)

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

I found using the foamy top cover gives bees no bees space but give beetles plenty of room for winter. Bees do populize the frames to the foamy. But no room for peppermint or the beetle bee gone pads. They populize . Thinking about going back to inner cover in summer

[@628DirtRooster]

I like inner covers but haven't used them in a while. I need to make some more.

[@RogersBenjamin]

Do the queens lay in the queen cups? Or do the workers transfer an egg to the cup from another cell it was laid in?

[@628DirtRooster]

The queens lay in the cups.

[@brucesbees]

Man what beautiful bees!

[@628DirtRooster]

Someone already suggested I send you some queens. I'll get them ready for you. Haha

[@wadebarnes6720]

I done it last year and this year 90% of my are in 6 boxes and believe it or not 6 frame box make the same as a 8 frame on honey and I think they draw out faster and they are more happier

[@paulmoreland3162]

Why, having gone this far, not go ahead and split? Will you make a video of the split when you do it? I am a two year beekeeper.

[@bluzervic]

I get a lot less hive beetles here, but a lot more wax moth. That hive looks good and strong though, nice group of bees.

[@628DirtRooster]

I'm glad you don't have the beetle problem so bad. They are terrible.

[@elizabethrogers1152]

Great video,just really all around interesting! Read that 411 in the description, very interesting as i said!! Thanks, Mr Randy 🐝

[@LANEZZ-jv5ok]

I bet those bee are fussing you out. They had those beetles corralled til you popped the lid😂😂

[@nunyah64]

Oh Lord a new type of hive tool😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@camarorules1]

Cool indeed 😎

[@josephrawls]

That's some good bees right there.

[@628DirtRooster]

Only the best mutts down here. haha

[@sharoncarlisle7089]

Awesome bèes and tutorial...😅

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Sharon

[@kylelieb2977]

The reason that you don't have many mites is because you use feral bees. When we started out we used all feral bees and had maybe 10% annual losses treatment free. Over the years as we've grown we have moved towards purchased bees and our losses have grown each year. Last year we lost about 40% and will likely lose as many this year.

[@wadebarnes6720]

Put a box on top and watch them blow up

[@wadebarnes6720]

I don't know why Mister Ed don't come get some of that good wood wear from you

[@rockyrdc]

It's a happy day . Thanks for the video

[@628DirtRooster]

Thank you too

[@micahestep7679]

I use Swiffer sweeper pads and oil traps baited with apple cider vinegar to help control hive beetles.......and my thumb. I can't stand the little buggers. I feel bad when I open a hive and they scatter from where they've been corralled up. I hear A&M is working on breeding bees that chew hive beetles legs off.

[@briansmith6824]

What is that white plastic you stapled on the top cover? It looks a lot easier to use than aluminum flashing.

[@628DirtRooster]

It's metal flashing.

[@bradgoliphant]

Hey my friend. The reason you don’t have much of a mite problem is because bees have trouble reproducing when humidity levels raise higher than 65%.

[@628DirtRooster]

Hey Brad. Just curious where you heard that. Our humidity is routinely 80-90% and our bees are brooding up heavy. Humidity here was 72% this morning. Humidity may have some effect but they reproduce fine here in high humidity. It may have some effect on mite reproduction though. I'm just guess at that because I haven't figured out what else it could be keeping our mite count so low on yards that have had zero chemical treatment in six to eight years.

[@bradgoliphant]

@@628DirtRooster I heard that on one of the latest KZbin videos on the new HiveGate. Kyle who invented it mentioned it in his presentation saying if the Hivegate is set up correctly, it can help the hive control both temps and humidity levels inside the have 40% better that having a standard entrance. I just installed them on all my hives. If I’m not mistaken, I believe bees like to have the inside of the hive at a constant 89% humidity. In this home gate helps him do that. And then he mentioned with her humidity levels inside the home and around the brood area, mites do have an issue with reproduction. I found it interesting and want to look in to this further myself.

[@628DirtRooster]

@@bradgoliphant Thanks man. I'll look them up and check out their videos.

[@bradgoliphant]

@@628DirtRooster their latest one was 2.5 hours long. Have your head of the Hivegate? I’m truly impressed by the benefits of this added to hives. Especially the reduction of robbing it stops. All the best.

[@kennethsiler9503]

How do you come down to Louisiana New Orleans I was trying to locate you in Mississippi I am Mister Ed I tried getting a hold of you before I even started coming down there and I was disappointed not getting a hold of year Cameron bad to say hi

[@628DirtRooster]

Mr. Ed and I are both kind of hard to catch up with.

[@royhendershot]

I would buy a queen from that stock if they are available.

[@628DirtRooster]

Maybe next year. We got about 8,000 grafts off her before she was accidentally rolled by a helper. We are grafting off one of her daughters now.

[@royhendershot]

@@628DirtRooster I enjoy watching your content. As a 6 year beekeeper and bee killer I aways learn something from your videos.

[@markmurphy8303]

Hi Randy mate, looks like your season is starting to kick off, yep you got yourself a nice big colony really gentle and easy working with them a prime candidate to split off em , us over the pond are a few weeks behind ya but already seeing lots of activity and a steady stream of pollen going in. Thank you for posting we love your vlogs here in the UK good luck with your season Randy mate.

[@One29Homestead]

Good looking hive there! Why not go ahead and split and force them to make some queens? I'm thinking I missed you talking about that.

[@628DirtRooster]

I was waiting on grafted cells. I split them yesterday. Tracking that queen is my biggest concern so we can graft off her.

[@bradgoliphant]

Hey Dirt Rooster. How can one assure the same genetics unless queens are AI mated? If this new queen is open mated, does not the sperm to the drones make up most of the genetics?

[@628DirtRooster]

These will be open mated and even thought he drones contribution is half the genetics the queens traits will still be retained to some degree. The more drones this colony puts off locally and breeds with other local but unrelated queens the better for this yard. Wile you can't ensure the exact genetics or attitude we can help steer a yard in that direction.

[@Chkra0717]

Why is there never any honey combs in the boxes?

[@628DirtRooster]

Depends on the time of year.

[@jenniferking741]

Let’s go!!!!! Grafting from that baby fo sho!

[@628DirtRooster]

They're ready

[@kevinlyons919]

Did you get your hive tool at Hive Life?

[@628DirtRooster]

I didn't but Chris, who was at Hive Life, is the one who made them. I have two of them.

[@rickabrams3422]

where'd you get that hive tool from?

[@628DirtRooster]

[e-mail]

[@wadebarnes6720]

I always said you're these would not starve as long as you don't have a loaf of bread.lol

[@628DirtRooster]

I'll eat their honey and pollen too if they don't hide it from me.

[@JulysAngel69]

What did you use in your smoker?

[@628DirtRooster]

Pine straw

[@JulysAngel69]

@628DirtRooster Thank you for fast reply. I'm new at Beekeeping in Vincent, Ohio, recently moved a hive a very short distance from a table to a little lower stand 2 manage double brood box easier. I noticed a bunch of bees bearded on table, so decided to just put my empty plastic/cardboard nuc box on table for them, added an empty frame, 2 frames of brood, nectar and pollen frames. I noticed queen cells in my double brood hive, & nuc box, but recently we had a dearth so resources ran low, I didn't see any eggs, larvae or capped brood. On September 8th, I saw at least 3 queen cells, so I carefully cut out 1 capped queen cell and pushed into a queen cup and stuck in wax in nuc box. Next day I looked in and bees destroyed all of the queen cell! So, I'm wondering if I already have a queen, not sure, didn't notice one yet. Then my double brood box hive, had an open with larvae & closed queen cell still in it, however, I'm not sure if I have a queen there, no Brood! Not sure what to do. I do have a 3rd double brood box hive and a marked queen that currently started laying good again as we have goldenrod blooming now. Yikes, I'm worried about my bees, wondering how or if need to put all in good queened hive for winter, but, what if they have a queen? Or do I just need to buy 2 queens & then how 2 introduce without bees killing her..... 🤔

[@jads9296]

Very cool Randy. Thanks

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@curtislesann2948]

Dang can you ship a mated queen from that colony to Canada??

[@628DirtRooster]

I quit shipping queens a couple of years ago. Sorry

[@murpheybees]

I'm a little jealous you can do hive inspections without readers on. LOL

[@628DirtRooster]

Eat more carrots

[@murpheybees]

That ship sailed many years ago.

[@kimmogensen5390]

so i had my first bees this year,, to healty 4 box high colonies , we moved them did not get stung , been in them harvested a bit of fall honey 1 box was a bit fligthly the other behaved like these very docile and the same very nice broodpattern and honey band,,standing there in suits seemed a bit ecessive and all but better safe then sorry

[@kathyhathaway8823]

WoW I would love to have a complete yard of those. Hope you all are doing well. Thanks for the video on these an I hope you have a great season. THANKS

[@628DirtRooster]

You could run full tours with no bee suits on a yard full of these.

[@beekeepinggarden165]

Hi Randy Great video 👍🐝🐝

[@628DirtRooster]

Hey, thanks

[@Jc4elayne]

I hadn’t seen your channel in a while. It’s good to she you’re still thriving. I learned so much about Beekeeping watch your channel after I had a swarm land in my shed. Looked beekeeper up on KZbin and found your channel. I then called a local beekeeper who wouldn’t kill the bees vs exterminator. Keep keeping 😊!

[@user-ls2sk4qo4d]

Поставьте с верху ещё один корпус с рамками, им там мало места

[@628DirtRooster]

I split them a couple of days after recording this.

[@CMPearrow]

I’d love to have some of them !

[@628DirtRooster]

Laid back beekeeping.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

I need some of these genetics. Nice calm colony with textbook perfect frames. Enjoyed the video. Take care.

[@628DirtRooster]

They had the recipe of a perfect frame down to a science. lol

[@donbearden1953]

Randy, you said “it ain’t the prettiest thing you’ve seen” and the bees aren’t looking for pretty. They’re looking for bee functionality! Some folks spend time painting up hives pretty and very attractive but thats for the human eyes and I have nothing against folks doing that! About the only thing I can draw is flies so I don’t attempt to be artistic. lol I hope you and Mrs Elizabeth are doing good.

[@628DirtRooster]

You are so right. I have some gnarly looking equipment with some extremely happy bees in them. Elizabeth is changing that though. She wants my equipment to look nice. 😆

[@jennr7500]

Agree. Some things ought not be changed. Maybe you should have one decorative hive set near the house? Bee a good thing for Elizabeth? ❤

[@sandiebrecken1897]

Great to see you again randy

[@628DirtRooster]

Hope y'all are good Sandie.

[@marcykinsey92]

My Dad always liked the black or the Italian bees, that’s what he called them better than the more yellow ones. The only thing we ever wore to the bee yard was a vail, shirt sleeves were always rolled up or short sleeved. Mom always had on a dress no jeans and she was a large woman so there was a lot of exposed shin on her but again only a vail. The four of us girl did wear shorts, sleeveless top and a vail. He used old burlap sacks in his smoker. I really miss not being able to help with the bees. One thousand hives keeps you pretty busy during the summer.

[@tonyandric4380]

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen that many hive beetles in one of my hives. But then, 'docile' is a word I never use with my bees!

[@628DirtRooster]

I’ll bring you a crop of MS beetles this summer. 😉

[@LeeWH578]

what is the difference between honey bees and other bees or are they the same

[@628DirtRooster]

There are many different kinds of bees. “Honey bees” are just the only ones who produce honey. There are many different varieties of honey bees too but to the untrained eye they all look pretty much the same.

[@eagle12687]

Isaiah 7:18 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.” (KJV)

[@628DirtRooster]

A scripture of war

[@WayneACrowder]

Those bees are so calm you should sell some queens to Bruce.

[@628DirtRooster]

I'd give him some if he didn't like the tough ones so much. :)

[@WayneACrowder]

@@628DirtRooster ROFLOL

[@LANEZZ-jv5ok]

What do the bees do to the beetles after they corral them?

[@628DirtRooster]

They build little propolis walls or corrals to try and hold them in one place and starve them

[@jennr7500]

What a colony! I enjoyed the sights and sounds. The bee(s) who buzzed and walked the camera lens were so fitting. Incredible how they are so calm. I hope you get the results you want from these bees. I wonder if when split, does that mean you put them with other colonies? And if those bees are aggressive, do the calmer bees survive? Wow. I only wish I kept bees. Sigh. Always brings back long ago memories of ex-laws and beekeeping and supplies. The part I miss. 😂 Take care. And thanks.

[@halltrader]

To keep the calm genetics you have to give them a queen that has calm genetics and she will lay eggs with the calm genetics. The new bees born from her will be calm mixed with aggressive bees. Just putting calm bees with aggressive bees does not make them calm. That is why sometimes a beekeeper will pinch and kill an aggressive genetics queen and then replace her with a calm queen. The original colony will die off as they age and the new bees will be calm and replace them.

[@chelsealeonardbaum23]

Thank you

[@628DirtRooster]

My pleasure.

[@dcsblessedbees]

Nice bees, not much more to say then that. Love that buzz of a healthy strong colony.

[@628DirtRooster]

They're so nice they send out Christmas cards.

[@michaelfike7542]

Great looking colony of bees. I had a colony over winter in a 10 frame deep with great luck we only had a few days of °0 to °3 degrees here in north west alabama and everything made it fine. You need to graft and get some queens off that colony for sure. ❤️🐝

[@628DirtRooster]

We had a few uncharacteristically cold days here, ten degrees below normal winter lows, but it didn't seem to do any damage thankfully.

[@travis5134]

Those are some good looking frames right there

[@628DirtRooster]

I whole heartedly agree.

[@T-BEEZY]

Thanks Randy!

[@gregdunn6422]

Hey Randy, great video. It's a pleasure to work gentle bees like that... but they are rare in my yard.

[@628DirtRooster]

Y'all have some feisty bees up around your area.

[@filipvernica258]

Snowflake in Portland Oregon

[@628DirtRooster]

Hi snowflake. Welcome to the channel.

[@suzylarry1]

that was nice !

[@628DirtRooster]

My best hive.

[@baneverything5580]

My Louisiana honey went up from 8.99 to over 18.00 for the 32oz container. So I`ve been eating molasses.

[@628DirtRooster]

Haha I like molasses but that's a shame.

[@davidlewis4179]

For some reason the dirtrooster and Apimaye seem so inconceivable to me. 🤣

[@628DirtRooster]

Reminds me of the Princess Bride movie, "INCONCEIVABLE!"

[@davidlewis4179]

@@628DirtRooster Fezzik, where did you think I learned big words like that? 🤣

[@NorthernANTs]

As I am watching I look out the window to heavy snow coming down. on top of the 3 foot we already have. Great looking Hive.

[@628DirtRooster]

Now that sounds like fun to me!

[@Moderatelydisagreeable]

It’s that time of year to start watching Dirt Rooster. Did my first inspection 3 days ago here in SC. I think it’s going to be a busy year.

[@628DirtRooster]

Y'all are pretty close to our time line for beekeeping.

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

That Hive Looks Real Good randy! Good brood Pattern, One of my Italian hives has a Good solid Brood Pattern, That Hive will be a good Hive to Graft Out of, Good stuff Randy!

[@mikef-berry2614]

At the end of your video you mentioned you are a firm believer in sheltering your bees from the sun. Why is that? I raise bees in the Northwest and find my bees most happy and productive in all but the most extremely hot days.

[@baneverything5580]

It`s unbelievably hot and humid in the Deep South. There`s no telling how hot they might get in full sun on days when there`s no breeze and it`s 100 degrees. So I would assume that`s why he does it. I nearly died from the heat after hurricane Laura. One of the main causes of deaths in New Orleans after hurricanes is heat stroke and a lot of people get permanently injured by them or suffer heart attacks or injuries from falling down. I shopped around after Laura and Delta hit us and was able to get really good deals on a lot of small and medium sized solar power stations and solar panels, then when prices came down I got a 12v 300ah LiFeP04 battery rated at 200 amps and 3.8 kwh and have been getting a few more needed parts each month on a fixed income for emergency solar power for a small window air conditioner. When fully charged it can power a 5000 btu AC for at least six hours on high and run a freezer for a week. Gonna connect everything and test it in the coming weeks and then add more 100w panels each month that have their own in-line simple MPPT charge controllers to try to get at least 1200 watts of charge into the battery when needed on partly cloudy days to keep the AC running and a full charge to boot and to fast charge when the sun is bright. The power stations can power my small freezers and dorm fridge and other things or provide a charge to the big battery when required. I hope to save money on my cooling, cooking, and heating bill by running tiny 200 to 400 watt heaters.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

I do beleave if you've ever been in his area humidity is so thick you can wear it

[@628DirtRooster]

I need to do a video about that. It has to do with maintaining more constant temperatures through the day. I find that feral colonies much prefer the north side of structures but will home up in the east, west or south side if it is fully shaded by a tree or another structure.

[@flyingpigpreserve8562]

Very nice box of Bees. Great Genetics to have. Can't wait to see the Queens and Hives you get from that Box of Bees. Peace from WV

[@paulheinrich7645]

Where do you get Ceracell jackets, top feeders, etc. here in the States?

[@628DirtRooster]

Blythewood Bee Company sells some Ceracell equipment. I’m not sure what all they carry.

[@larrynoe6276]

Have you tried the peppermint candy it works? I had several hive Beatles in my hives and I tried the peppermint candy and my first inspection this year I only seen 1 or2 Beatles in a couple of hives the other 9 no Beatles. my name is Larry and I live in east Tennessee and I have really enjoyed watching your videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@628DirtRooster]

I tried peppermint for a short while but wrong time of year and didn’t keep it up long enough to see if it was effective.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

​@@628DirtRoosteryou really need to try it

[@dirtyoldfarmhand3]

Awesome

[@kevind7617]

The nuke I got from you last year are docile.. me and the wife work em on short sleeves.. no veils. bare foot and in a skirt.. well she does.. very little smoke.. only time I get stung is on my hands.. completely my fault..I'd sting if I was getting squished too.. I know that's different then a cut out.. but they sweet

[@628DirtRooster]

That's good to hear. Most of mine are gentle when they leave here. I don't ever hear how or if they've changed over time.

[@Danisimpkins]

Oh how I’ve missed your videos Randy! I stumbled on your channel and then to Mr. Eds channel. I was absolutely TERRIFIED of bees (also deadly allergic) but I’ve found myself now not terrified! I’ve even started to give the bees their own food when they show interest in mine while staying calm and oddly hear your voice as if you are talking me through what’s going on. Hope to see your new videos on my feed! Can’t wait for my toddler to learn about bees from your videos!

[@Gawonii1Austencao]

This hive looked like a candidate for an extra deep... looked a little over crowded.

[@628DirtRooster]

Getting there fast.

[@Swarmstead]

Love them true survivor bees.

[@628DirtRooster]

Tough as an ugly ginger at an inner city school.

[@Swarmstead]

@@628DirtRooster I left them alone. 😆

[@628DirtRooster]

@@Swarmstead That gentle spirit

[@moosibou]

I'm confused. You want to retain the line of genetics but you're going to introduce a foreign queen. Why don't you just nuc that hive into 2 or 3 frame nucs and let them make emergency cells. There are enough bees in there they would make great queens and you would retain the genetics and get your early splits. By the time the queens are ready, there will be drones flying, as evidenced by the drone stage in that hive. I'd like to have a couple of those queens, if you do graft.

[@628DirtRooster]

Planning to make a lot of queens out of this colony. The splits though will be made with grafted queens off straight Italian breeders like the rest of our nucs going out this year. They’ll be mated on a out yard about four miles from this location. I’ve pulled two very docile colonies out of the Necaise community and that’s where I want to take the grafts off this queen to be mated.

[@CastleHives]

Those are some gentle girls. Always nice working a colony like that.