ABANDONED BEES | Part 2 (7 weeks later) | How are they doing? FUN!!!

[@brucesbees]

This was a great day and it was nice to hang out with Ron again and go through these bees. It was also nice to meet Earl. What do you think about how things are looking and decisions made?

[@ericcorrea5622]

By the looks of it you’ve gained their trust. Watching the before and after videos is vastly different such a joy to watch, they are more reserved and happy to see you

[@gerardjohnson2106]

This is the stuff that keeps me, not a beekeeper, watching honeybee videos. Good people helping good people helping bees. Thanks for sharing

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the kind words. It was a good day. Hope the bees continue to grow.

[@reneebrown2968]

The first time you sit in the middle of a swarm you will be hooked. I know i was

[@russellkoopman3004]

Good to see Ron with the Bee Fever. When he tastes and smells his first honey he will be hooked.

[@brianharris2408]

I'm Ron's brother, he is loving the bee's and already got a little honey! Great video!

[@brucesbees]

Cool! This whole experience has been a lot of fun!

[@mrtraumaboyy4098]

Got some good honey for you brother!!

[@brianharris2408]

@@mrtraumaboyy4098 cant wait to try it! See you in a few weeks!

[@Red_Scarf_Apiary]

6 Sep 2023 - How are the bees doing two years on? Has Ron added more hives to the yard?

[@brucesbees]

@Red_Scarf_Apiary I called him awhile back and he told me they died out. I think he said it was because of spraying in the fields. Not sure if he has obtained any more hives. It’s a shame. Was hoping to go do a follow up.

[@drholingue]

Thank you for posting the followup... this puzzle solving is very interesting!!

[@brucesbees]

Yes it was a good day.

[@mattsara2802]

Them bees are doing GREAT

[@brucesbees]

Yes. The last hive is struggling a bit but I think the others are all going from be ok.

[@scorpion777silvermoon3]

Oh awesome part 2. I was wondering how the bees are doing 🤔

[@charleyfloyd3317]

Caught my first swarm today! I'm still a new beekeeper so I was really excited. Thanks to you and other experienced beekeepers for making videos to help us new guys. Really cold in the North Georgia mountains. Was going to split the hive but they beat me to it.

[@brucesbees]

I’m glad you were able to catch them. Good luck with them!

[@charleyfloyd3317]

Thanks!

[@loghawgtv]

I’ve been watching honey bee videos for quite some time idk why I find it interesting but also they all can end up being the same but theirs always something super exciting about checking some hives that haven’t been touched in many years. And like you said in part one, those that are left after that amount of time are real survivors and are doing something right

[@brucesbees]

Yes! This was a cool experience. Thanks for checking in. I’m glad you enjoy these videos.

[@TennesseeMountainBees]

Awesome!!

[@brucesbees]

Thanks!

[@gerilynne1955]

Amazing how nature works.

[@utetrahemicon]

Bees are the original 3D printers.

[@artbysolar-theresa]

Way to go Ron. Get that honey and let the girls do their thang :)

[@spudgn]

Always good to see this

[@jpascaln]

Great videos guys. Thanks for sharing.

[@brucesbees]

Yes that was a fun experience.

[@kat2641]

Glad to see progress an it's amazing how they well they are adjusting .. Thanks

[@karenjones6088]

Well,thankyou Bruce and Ron for a second video on your bees This type of stuff shows good bee keeping at its best. Thankyou again Bruce. Love it

[@brucesbees]

Thanks!

[@frankmachado]

Great to see you mentoring others he sure seemed excited

[@delraesensenig4593]

Nice! i was hoping to see these again. hopefully someone will abandon some bees near me!

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Love to see the progress on the girls!!!! Thanks Bruce!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

Great footage love seeing what is happening with the the bees

[@jpcomp5159]

Thank you to all the bee keepers out there - one of my uncles did it, & we always had honey when I was a kid

[@trishwestberg6982]

Great video!!

[@brucesbees]

Thank you!

[@loriotter]

So cool. Thanks for this.

[@Jobobn1998]

Happy to see an update on these hives! Also happy to see Ron again!

[@BlanchardsBees]

170,000!!! Holy smokes!! CONGRATS!

[@toweroftrollgaming]

Good to see You and Ron working together takeing care of these girls

[@rpeebles]

I am weird that I think it is amazing when I see a hive make a queen from an egg, she go off and get mated and come back and start laying. Yeah it is normal but still fascinates me.

[@brucesbees]

Many things about bees are fascinating. Thanks for checking in!

[@jam2190]

Bee over a year since you updated the abandoned bee hives, with Ron!!!!!!! Any planning on doing a check up

[@brucesbees]

I need to reach out to him and see if I can go back down there.

[@jam2190]

@brucesbees bet there is alot of viewers would love to see. New and old alike.

[@brucesbees]

I agree. Thank you.

[@dirtyoldfarmhand3]

Awesome

[@Makermook]

Man, I love watching your videos. Your style is knowledgeable but humble.

[@brucesbees]

Yeah it’s fun. Thanks for checking in!

[@karenjones6088]

This was good,I take my hat off for both of you saving the bees, I hope Ron can clean up the yard and salvage all the left over stuff laying out side.

[@Bourbonsouth47]

Great video ! Love seeing the older hives doing there thing

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Great to him taking over the hives an it also looks like he is really enjoyed his self . I know he really glad that you helped him get his feet wet . I also thank you for all your videos and the help your videos has done for me. Thanks Gene

[@HaselorHoney]

Great to see they are doing well 🐝🐝🐝

[@GeorgeCMcRae]

Excellent! sure want to see how your Pro Nuc split turns out.....

[@joelbenton4153]

Hi Bruce. I really like your vids keep up the good work. Regarding the brood in the supers above the queen excluder, I had the same problem last year with one of my hives. When inspecting this hive I was seeing a lot of brood above the queen excluder with no new brood, larvae or eggs below the excluder. I couldn't figure it out. A friend who is a longtime beekeeper suggested that the hive had swarmed and when the new queen returned from her mating flight she entered the hive through the upper entrance putting her above the queen excluder. This is why I was seeing brood in the upper supers. Don't know for sure if that's what happened but it made sense to me. Looking forward to seeing more of your vids.

[@brucesbees]

Hey that makes sense. Thanks for the input.

[@martenapperloo1055]

Just a thought, I would start with the outside frame

[@Kevin89866]

Awesome seeing the follow up man. I saw the first video this morning and this one came up an hour later! Great timing haha

[@brucesbees]

Too funny!

[@karenjones6088]

Hi Bruce, I love the 2nd follow up on the Abanded hives.great stuff what u two r doing.when is the 3rd follow up happening, its exciting to see this type of bee work.

[@popquizzz]

Bruce keep the Pro-Nuc in the shade to very limited sun. In my experience last year, I had two Pro-Nuc hives over heat in a few hours even with the ventilation allowed through the Pro-Nuc. This occured during 80-85 degree heat day in a matter of one afternoon. This can be extremely heartbreaking, but it was a lesson learned for me. I now only use my Pro-Nucs for transport and as quiet boxes. I'm a bit gun-shy leaving bees in them for more than a few hours. Additionally if you use the Pro-Nuc as a quiet box or transport put a soaked sponge of water in the bottom to give the bees something to help regulate the heat if it does build up.

[@brucesbees]

Great info. Thanks. I have heard mixed reviews. I mainly plan to use them as transport as well. Currently the bees are still in it but they are mostly in the shade and it has been cool. I have not been able to check them and we have had a cool snap. I hope they are ok.

[@unclebobsbees4899]

My experience with pro-nucs is that there has to be 5 frames in them. Otherwise the frames bounce around too much. Nothing worse than seeing crushed bees.

[@brucesbees]

Yeah I don’t use them much at all. They are effective for making splits and transport from what I can tell. But have not used them much at all. I have a bunch of wooden nucs but my favorites are the Apimayes. I have 3 of them. I will probably start using Jesters if I start making more nucs and selling them.

[@larryschoenberger7957]

Awesome update Bruce and Ron, I would agree that some of those probably did swarm, but overall they are just doing what bees do. I have read the bees like to swarm on and around a full moon. The full moon is Monday. A really nice Harvest of honey came out of there for early-season. Ron seems quite excited to stick his hands into the honey haha. His friend will get a taste of that honey and will be hooked. I can see the bee fever from way over here😄 thanks again for sharing this update and mentoring Ron. He seems very appreciative!

[@larryschoenberger7957]

I watched this a second time, Ron may consider plugging that hole in the side of that box with a chunk of propolis, but making absolutely sure that the main bottom entrance is not blocked or restricted

[@brucesbees]

I like that suggestion. Thanks!

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Nice calm bees be good area for mating yard

[@forkintherode8236]

I enjoy learning about bees. My wife’s relative in Austria is a bee keeper.

[@brucesbees]

Yes it is very cool. Maybe you could get some bees!

[@forkintherode8236]

I just may but I have a lot to learn. I will continue to watch your videos for great info

[@donbearden1953]

Bruce, thanks for doing this follow up on Ron’s hives. It looks like they’re doing very good. Ron seemed ready to make another split. He may very well have a dozen hives there this fall. I see your number of subscribers are still climbing, all it takes is someone new watching one of your videos and they’re hooked! Harvest season will be here before we know it. Stay safe!

[@brucesbees]

Yes. It is coming soon and I am not ready! I need to start prepping. Will probably be harvesting in a month or less. Whew!

[@rileywilcox8856]

I’m a new beekeeper out of Syracuse, UT. Thanks for taking the time to make the content. Awesome stuff!!🙌

[@brucesbees]

Yes! It was fun. Thanks for checking in. My wife is from Sandy and I did a couple of videos last summer out there at Roots Charter School.

[@honeyspoonbeewrangler4550]

Hey fellow beekeeper. I'm just a town over in Layton. Do you go to any beekeeper associations? Weber has one Thursday the 28th at 7pm. Deseret Hive in Ogden.

[@kaitlynn1402]

Amazing little creatures. I loved watching these inspection videos as someone new to beekeeping (quite literally, i'm finishing my first semester class to earn my master beekeeping certification from OSU). I can't wait to get my first hive next year.

[@brucesbees]

Great! Thanks for watching!

[@edsauer5870]

Enjoy your videos sir!!!

[@lindagray5857]

The only problem I have with a pro nuc is if you have heavy frames, they will sag. They are great for collecting a swarm though.

[@Brewmaster721]

Ron should do narrating work. Super soothing voice.

[@brucesbees]

Yes he has an incredible voice!

[@billmclaughlin8438]

Did you ever figure out why the last hive wasn’t using the lower front entrance?

[@brucesbees]

Actually no. I guess I never really addressed that. I think the colony was just trying to rebound, possibly from swarming, and they had decided to use that upper entrance. From what I could tell the bottom entrance was not blocked. They had just started using that hole in the top and they were actually building out the hive from that point into the hive. So we just put them back together and for now they can do their thing. I imagine if the colony gains momentum and grows into a large population of bees they will probably start using the front entrance again. Great question. I should have done a better job answering it during the video.

[@billmclaughlin8438]

No problem. In the video you mentioned that you were going to check out why they weren’t using the bottom board and I was curious. Getting those abandoned hives for me it would be like winning at the lottery here in Colorado which I don’t play. It’s fun to watch someone get the honey bee bug. Brings back memories 😉

[@jamesnovinger3339]

I took advantage of the code for the Lorob Vaporizer

[@brucesbees]

Great! I think you will like it. I have been impressed with mine.

[@BackyardLaboratory]

"Does it hurt the honey to stay on there longer?" It can, if the hive gets weak, then it can get slimed by SHB or it can get robbed out.

[@brucesbees]

True

[@timlewis9873]

Nice vid. men.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks. Those abandoned bees videos were a lot of fun. Ron is a great guy!

[@quiltnchik]

Why are you allowing him to start pulling frames in the center? Good way to roll the queen.

[@brucesbees]

It is probably better to work from the outside but not a fool proof method. I think it is more important to go slow and be careful. I will also say that I have seen the queen on those outside frames many times. And lots of times there are tons of bees crammed against the side of the box in a packed hive, so when I enter a box I will often pull the second frame first, but that’s just me. There is never a “good” way to roll a queen, and it is always a risk when you go in a hive. However, I have found that by being careful typically everything works out well.

[@19537644]

Bruce, I have a question, and forgive my ignorance of beekeeping. It seems bees are still kept in wooden hives with wooden frames. I wondered if newer more durable materials would work. Quality, sturdy plastic for example, which would be less work for upkeep, building, and rebuilding of the wooden hives and frames? Just my thought and I know there is a very good reason for using wood. I hope you have the time to help me understand. Thank you for your channel and the information I have acquired and my newfound respect for beekeepers and where our honey comes from.

[@brucesbees]

Yes there are plastic hives and plastic frames out there. I use a lot of the plastic frames and have one Apimaye hive that I am trying. Seems to be pretty durable. Wood in the past has been cheaper but with prices the way they are now more propel might be switching to plastic or other type hives. Great question!

[@JohnSmith-fo8tw]

As a beekeeper myself I always remove an outer frame so you don't roll the queen, I had to learn the hard way but taking frames out of the center.

[@brucesbees]

Yep that’s a good idea. I try to be careful when I remove the frames.

[@doctortcbkk2027]

Bruce- I have hives that are huge in population but no evidence of queen- no eggs or larvae or capped brood but TONS of back-filling of comb with nectar. Maybe queen swarmed? But no queen cells. What would you do?

[@brucesbees]

I would just leave them alone for a week or two and see if you see evidence of a queen then. This happens to me all the time. More often than not after a week or two I will notice eggs/brood etc.

[@doctortcbkk2027]

@@brucesbees do I need to add some empty drawn frames?

[@brucesbees]

Yes if they are backfilling you need to give them some drawn comb of hives have it. Would also be good to put a frame of brood with eggs if you have any just to be sure.

[@TheRanxerox]

Tell Ron to wear a ball cap backwards under the hood to keep it off the back of his head and ears. Fewer chances for stings that way.

[@mrtraumaboyy4098]

Great Idea...Thank you!!

[@anthonyturner791]

Love these videos

[@brucesbees]

Thanks!

[@jamespollock2500]

So what was going on with the bottom of the last hive that they were not using lower entrance?

[@brucesbees]

I think they had just chosen the top entrance as their entrance of choice. The population was way down and they were just building from that entrance into the hive. We just pretty much closed it up and will let them do their thing. I think if the population rebounds they will start using the other entrance again.

[@elizabethhunter5523]

I’m very new to beekeeping. What does it mean to checkerboard?

[@brucesbees]

It’s when you put empty frames between frames of brood or other active frames that are already a hive.

[@billmclaughlin8438]

Isn’t this a good case for no chemical intervention beekeeping? These bees are strong and doing pretty well *without* the present mantra of you must medicate, you must use acid, you must ect. ?? I know it might be a touchy subject but so was the idea that the earth was not the center of the universe.

[@brucesbees]

Well. There were a a lot of empty and abandoned pallets out there of hives that did not survive. I think there had been about 30 or 40 hives and only 3 survivors. So while I like the idea of treatment free beekeeping the reality is that you have to lose a bunch of hives to get to that status. While there are some that are willing to take that risk, most are not. That having been said. This was a great experience and I was glad to have the chance to be a part of it and share it with the KZbin world. Thanks for checking in and for your thought provoking question. I’m sure many feel the same way. 🙂

[@jeffhousen8968]

this is more a case against no intervention at all, that looks to be at least 90% failure rate a lot of empty placements and colony debris there

[@brucesbees]

The debris laying around was what was left after several years of no intervention. These colonies were what had survived over that time. It really is quite amazing that they survived. I realize there are those who choose to be “treatment free” and that is fine but it is not worth it to me to lose most of my bees year after year until I finally build up a strong strain of bees.

[@william6526]

Why aren't you putting queen excluders to keep the queen in the brood box and out of the honey supers.

[@brucesbees]

Different people have different opinions on this. Some feel that queen excluders actually discouraging the need from going up into the honey boxes.

[@LastSonOfKickton]

What happened to the ones u took to Alabama ? Is there a follow up video?

[@brucesbees]

If I remember right the queen cells failed but I put another cell in there and it exploded into a nice nuc. It is the nuc I used in the observation hive video.

[@LastSonOfKickton]

@@brucesbees awesome thanx for the reply!! Holy cow ur awesome

[@ukana5315]

Is there a part 3?

[@brucesbees]

Not yet.

[@BrazenSpirituality]

🐝🥰🍯

[@rogermorrison2948]

Have you had any experience with flow hives? Pros? Cons?

[@brucesbees]

A little bit from others. They seem to like them fine. They are definitely convenient but you still have to manage the bees. I simply cannot afford to have Flow Hives as my primary type hive with the number of bees I have.

[@emj342]

❤️🐝❤️🐝❤️🐝❤️🐝❤️🐝❤️

[@Svensk7119]

How do you tell wax, nectar and honey apart? The video isn't all that clear to me. And how do you tell brood and drones combs apart?

[@brucesbees]

It’s hard to explain here. Maybe I have explained it better in some other videos. Or maybe I need to do a better job of explaining it in future videos. I do have a couple of “bee basics” videos. Maybe they are a bit better?

[@Svensk7119]

@@brucesbees Perhaps. I have yet to see them. As of now, I have watched about five videos of bee-keeping in total. I also confess to using an old pair of specs at the moment.

[@brucesbees]

Well thanks for checking in. Maybe I should do another bee basics video one of these days. Most of what I do just kind of happens. I often have a plan going in but the bees are not always predictable. It seems like it is always an adventure. I love it!

[@mandylpic1989]

Why didnt u locate the queens in each

[@brucesbees]

When going through hives I look for evidence of the queen but don’t always see her. Sometimes she can be difficult to find. If I see eggs I typically feel like we are in good shape.

[@robinfrazier9763]

Well I think that meadom should be on the bottom . Rob.

[@NewEnglandgardening]

I just watched a video on a bee heist in Canada in 2016 and here we have abandoned bees. Someone needs to create an app that hooks up thieves with abandoned hives so they don't have to steal bees.

[@popquizzz]

I watched that same video. $200K in bee loses and the guy keeping his mouth shut and having a really short sentence makes no sense. Let him rot in jail until he spills the goods.

[@brucesbees]

Yes I have heard that can be an issue.

[@brucesbees]

It is so aggravating when people take things that are not theirs, whatever it is. And there is so much work involved with establishing bees. It’s already a risky business. Some people have no shame.

[@Lipovodolinskiy]

Guys, what camera do you use?

[@brucesbees]

iPhone XS

[@Lipovodolinskiy]

@@brucesbees video is awesome!

[@JamesWilson-gt1lg]

and now we gonna need a part 3 lol

[@brucesbees]

Would love to get back down there. Maybe I can one of these days!

[@Dan-qp1el]

I want to do this!

[@brucesbees]

Great! Learn what you can and then give it a try

[@jamesarden2583]

Do You Think To Under Super

[@brucesbees]

I have done that at times. It seems to work both ways.

[@beskidzywieckipasieka9652]

👍👍👍🖐 I sub

[@brucesbees]

Thank you!

[@seanbarrasin9441]

dos it hurt wen you get stun be a bee

[@brucesbees]

Yes but I am pretty much used to it. Some locations on the body hurt worse than others.

[@heathergustafson4237]

You still need to clean it up!

[@brucesbees]

Old hives. Vintage lol...

[@jetpetty1613]

Bees build back better

[@williammcanelly2458]

The 2 people that gave thumbs down must not like your hat.

[@brucesbees]

Could be lol. Roll Tide!

[@spudgn]

It looks like wild or feral bees do much better. I hope you guys can propagate those genetics

[@william6526]

Put the box they aren't moving into between the two they are using and they will move into the box they aren't using if they have to travel thru it

[@brucesbees]

Good idea. Thanks!

[@JamesWilson-gt1lg]

and also anyone needing a oa vape lorobees is the way you wont be disappointed

[@brucesbees]

Yes the Lorob Bees vaporizer is the way to go!

[@eddevault4604]

Why didn’t you look in the bottom box to see why they were not using the bottom entrance....clean it out....rework the frames....

[@brucesbees]

Would have been a good idea but honestly there just weren’t many bees. They seemed to be building back up some in that second box and we just closed it up. Probably could have dropped it down and made it a single. Towards the end there were a few bees down there so I think it wasn’t blocked. They had just decided they like the top entrance better for whatever reason. Frankly I am a little concerned about the hive but maybe they will build back up. Thanks for checking in!

[@eddevault4604]

@@brucesbees yeah....I guess there’s always things that could be done or should be done....I just look at things as to how I would do it....I’m a bit too extreme in arranging frames and boxes according to bee population....I drive myself nuts painting and repairing ....lol....

[@brucesbees]

I hear ya man. My situation is honesty getting out of control. I can’t seem to stay on top of things. The bees in this area have been so swarmy this year. I honestly think all those hives down there had swarmed or were about to. But looking back on it we probably should have condensed that hive down to a single story hive.

[@mrtraumaboyy4098]

@@brucesbees Was thinking about that and maybe adding a frame from one of the strong hives. They did not appear to have much room in that second box. Maybe pull some of the honey frames out and add some of the comb from the bottom to give her more room to lay.

[@brucesbees]

Might be worth a try.

[@garydungelman6530]

Hygienic bees? Do- a Mite wash

[@CastleHives]

First. .

[@william6526]

They won't swarm unless they have a queen to swarm with them. If they swarmed the virgin queen would be in the hive and you should of killed the queen cells to stop them from swarming again.

[@Cenepk101]

Nice !!! wish you'd come to my house and help with my bees

[@reneebrown2968]

That pretty white won't stay that way long.