Five Hives In One House? Surprised Even Me

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Lately I've been pulling out videos that didn't create a complete story and had been essentially shelved due to my perception that they were lacking interesting content and/or any real value in the education or entertainment departments. Sometimes when you let videos or photos rest or age and then look back weeks or even years later, all of the sudden they seem interesting in some way. This is another set of just such footage.
This job began two or three years prior to the footage you're seeing here. I was hired to remove one hive from this home in the location of the front wall where we pulled that narrow soffit down. Upon my arrival and preliminary inspection, I found that there was a second hive in the door jamb of the storage room. I removed both hives but did none of the repairs. At that time the homeowner had a full-time maintenance man who was going to handle all build back and bee proofing. He and I had a long discussion in the presence of the homeowner as to what would be required to prevent a 100% guaranteed reinfestation. He assured me that he would follow my instructions to the letter. I was very thankful that three years later the customer recalled that conversation when she had to called me back out for this job.
You may be wondering how this could happen to someone's home. Between our first removals at this property and this five-hive job, the homeowner had relocated to Texas for a span of about two years. During that time, they kept the house but it remained vacant. They had a lawn company maintaining the yard while they were gone but there is really no grass to cut on this corner of the house and with it being vacant there was no one to notice when five separate honey bee colonies decided to set up shop in the walls and floors. This home is in incredibly good condition but there were gaps in the trim and all it takes is a small hole and a manageable space behind that hole to create the perfect recipe for a bee infestation.
These jobs were done in early July of 2022 in Diamondhead, MS when we were coming out of a strong Chinese Tallow flow and experiencing record high temperatures in Mississippi and several other southern states. The extreme heat and the scope of the jobs were the reasons for the lack of footage. It becomes extremely difficult to stay motivated to video record when you're worried about your own survival. We were having to take breaks every fifteen to twenty minutes and were drinking buckets of water. I personally drank two gallons per day while on site and still went home dehydrated. Yes, two gallons, no exaggeration.
Removal of all these hives, repairing the damage and packing all the customer's personal belongings back into the storage room took me and Pete two full days. We were also the ones tasked with unpacking the storage room. That was a chore in itself. There were some very heavy items in there that we initially thought we were going to try and work around or over.
I went back alone for a third day to caulk the house. I spent a couple of hours and used six tubes of caulk filling gaps and touching up trim and spaces where bees could get in. We are now a year and a half post repair, and this customer hasn't had any more problems. I will likely stop by sometime this summer and do a condition inspection to see if the house needs any touch up work. I'd rather keep my customers happy with an occasional small touch up service than have them call me for an expensive removal every few years. The drive by inspection will be at no cost as I'm regularly in that neighborhood.
As a final thought, I wasn't the first person to remove bees from this house. Someone else had taken two hives out of a different wall several years prior to my first service at this location. The only reason I got the call this time is that the other person had gotten out of the bee removal business. He must have been good at his job because he also did the repairs and no bees got back in the area he worked on. Here's a pat on the back to you, whoever you are.
Music is from Epidemic Sound
Fall Draws Near - American Legion
How to Carry On (Instrumental Version) - Wildflowers

[@tommychew6544]

Just read the description, it was worth the read. Thanks for the video!

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks so much Tommy. I love my channel members!

[@newatthis50]

​@@628DirtRoosterwe love You too!! I've learned so much from your videos and absolutely LOVE the pictures at the end.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Randy, what a great start to my bad-weather day. It often amazes me that homeowners are not carefully inspecting the exterior of their homes and weather-sealing every opening. This would also prevent the re-homing of future honey bees on the move. I think we need to do that Zoom interview and help get the word out, particularly with spring coming along soon. 09:30 some very happy larvae-eating chickens :) at 12:30 a fellow Nikonian :)

[@stevenaamos]

As I mentioned in my comment, more episodes of "Cutouts and Cut ups" are desperately needed in these trying times. It would be way above average.

[@628DirtRooster]

I'm ready any time my friend. :) Time to educate the masses. Also, Nikon rules!

[@Jc4elayne]

I think I remember you removing a hive at this same location. I remember that Brick. Great job!

[@HillBillyEarl]

So You Just Blew Some Bee Theory all to Hell BOSS! Looks Like They Had A Community of Hives! Never Expected That! Always Learning! Thanks Boss n Pete! God Bless!!!

[@628DirtRooster]

Pretty much!

[@josephrawls]

After three sittings I finally got to finish this video. Another good one. Loved pictures and music.

[@628DirtRooster]

You're worse than Pete. I'll have to bring you on some jobs to see which one of y'all gets it the worst.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Amazing. Beautiful comb. 5 new hives. Lots of hot work. I’m sweating just watching you. Take care.

[@628DirtRooster]

That was a near heat stroke job.

[@chericobb6126]

Love you guys, keep doing what you do!!!!

[@628DirtRooster]

Will do for the foreseeable future

[@timmorris7022]

You need to bring Pete with you to expo Randy.

[@628DirtRooster]

Pete doesn’t like crowds. I hope to get him to Bee Alive in Slidell this year since it’s smaller and close to home.

[@curiousone6129]

So fun to watch!

[@clarenceburton9654]

Love your photography !!

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@luckydubeinrc5165]

Hi Rooster, long time no see :) ...heading into winter here, caught a swarm 2 days ago, and one swarm just got into a empty super i had sitting on the lawn,

[@KajunHomestead]

That lady had more healthy hives than most bee keepers lol.

[@628DirtRooster]

I hadn’t thought of that.

[@tube4trey]

Randy! Cut away from your hand. Great video as always

[@628DirtRooster]

No danger here. That junk saw blade barely cut comb. haha

[@davidspriggs2513]

I love your content as well as the still photos that you place on the video, keep up the good work!

[@FunnyBugBeesandWoodWorks]

It was awesome meeting you today in New Bern at the NC State bee meeting. This is Pop Pops Bee's.

[@jamiewilson9262]

Great video! Description info was perfect & helpful. The pics at the end are always great but these are even more so....That bridge is beautiful! Thanks, Rooster! ❤

[@628DirtRooster]

I love photography and I like sharing a little of that.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Another solid video with awesome photos at the end!! Diamondhead is loaded bee country, not to mention they have a DQ!!

[@628DirtRooster]

There are a few good apiaries in Diamondhead, hidden of course. :)

[@thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924]

He got some of that stinger honey! Ear stings are the worst.

[@628DirtRooster]

Pete is funny no matter where he gets stung.

[@tincup3773]

Make the whole house a bee hive and be done with it 😊

[@628DirtRooster]

It was headed that direction on it's own.

[@JarodShapiro]

I used to be skeptical about the pics at the end of the videos. Now its one of my favorite part of the videos.

[@628DirtRooster]

I enjoy putting all that together. Glad you're liking them.

[@timmorris7022]

Forgot to mention in my previous comment ,nice ending.Life is good !

[@628DirtRooster]

No doubt, life IS good.

[@rachelstone4967]

Do you have a maximum temperature over which you don’t do removals? Besides getting heatstroke yourself 😂 I’ve done a couple on really hot days & left the vac bucket open with screen for the trip home but had a lot more dead bees coated in honey than usual when I’ve let them out. Not sure if over-suction or over-hearing??

[@628DirtRooster]

Not really but you have to be even more mindful of the bees overheating than you do yourself.

[@nightshade4071]

Yayz the tea man is back time to do jokes 🤣😹

[@628DirtRooster]

Always having fun

[@nightshade4071]

@@628DirtRooster the two of you guys are my favorite to watch it makes me laugh when you guys goof around while doing the job

[@kennethsiler9503]

I miss you for sometime I was wondering what happened how much staff on my phone I delete you out of the image it right but I’m glad to see you again

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you found us again.

[@KG-xt4oq]

Just now getting around to watching this one; I realize that having multiple hives and tens of thousands of bees isn't something one wants to have at their home, but was it at all possible to wait a couple days for temperatures to be a bit less dangerous? After reading the description it sounds like you and Pete could have gotten into a real bad situation with heat exhaustion. Not trying to be a Nervous Nelly or a backseat bee remover...just wondering if there's ever been a time you didn't do a job due to it being just too hot? Take care and be(e) safe...

[@628DirtRooster]

The weather stayed like that for six weeks this summer along with a long drought. There have been jobs that I wished we'd not even started once we were into them. This past summer it happened on several of them though. We've both gotten older and fatter and can't handle the heat as well

[@KG-xt4oq]

@@628DirtRooster Ok then...just be(e) careful; both of you. I was stationed at Keesler AFB from March to November in 1995, so I know how miserable it is during the summer. I remember waking up at 5am and the heat index would already be in the low 90s. If you got to do anything outside, best get it done by 10am at the latest...lol.

[@thenodiggardener]

Goodness, they sure like that house lol

[@628DirtRooster]

It has that bee house smell.

[@joesinakandid528]

A suggestion that might work out well for you and the homeowner: It seems that for a few reasons that this house is chosen as a new home every year or two by a new swarm. As a pro-active alternative to removals, what about setting up a catch hive or two during times of swarming? If you catch a swarm once or twice a year in an old 'over the prime of it's life' hive box or two would it be worth your effort (especially you seem to be traveling through the neighborhood on a regular basis)? A boxed-up swarm from time to time (easy to relocate) might provide easy $ for you and a "service" in preventing "break - ins" to the elderly home owners house. Pro-actively stopping swarm invasions could allow you to end up with a win-win situation. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Good work, Randy, a really unusual case. Joe S -- AK and ID

[@628DirtRooster]

Traps would definitely catch in that area but her house (without maintenance) would be preferred over a swarm trap. Trapping is a service some people offer but maintenance on the home is so much more effective. Next year I may run traps again. I haven't in many years because it's time consuming keeping up with them.

[@lomavistabeeco]

#945 !!!

[@628DirtRooster]

What is 945

[@lomavistabeeco]

@@628DirtRooster lol…I was the 945th like. It took me a few mins to remember why I said that 🤣

[@628DirtRooster]

😂

[@ivettecolon9823]

Five hives in one house wow amazing but like always 628DirtRooster to the rescue 😊 and Pete 😊 God bless you guys 🙏❤️

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks so much Ivette

[@ivettecolon9823]

@@628DirtRooster 🙏❤️

[@derekspence6994]

we cant keep up with all your bee videos wow! hurry up and make that million and get back to normal,Pete must be pissed off lack of removals

[@stephaniea5206]

Every time I watch your videos, I miss living on the coast. Thank you for the memories.

[@628DirtRooster]

It's such a good place to raise a family.

[@stephaniea5206]

@@628DirtRooster Yes, it really is.

[@RippleAffect]

What kind of honey was it?

[@628DirtRooster]

Not sure but the cappings were really thick and the honey didn’t taste good.

[@jkell42]

The seagull frozen 1 foot above parking lot is cool image! I love how the shadow shows the wings 🪽.

[@628DirtRooster]

I've got some pretty cool seagull shots but I can't remember where I saved the pictures.

[@cherylcarnes4207]

Beautiful couple, beautiful family. Thanks Randy, Elizabeth and Pete.

[@628DirtRooster]

Our pleasure!

[@dixsigns1717]

Great video, I am so glad you decided to finally post it. I am invalid and youtube is one of my main distractions in life. I love your content!

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks for spending a few minutes of your day with us. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@SandieBrecken-ik9uk]

Great to see you and Pete working together again 👍👍👍👍

[@628DirtRooster]

More to come!

[@lindseyhomesteadfarm2653]

That was pretty amazing!!! Great cutouts!

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you liked it!

[@phillipwasson2980]

Awesome video. Awesome outro! ❤👌

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks for the visit

[@skrtskit1521]

I enjoy your snapshots at the end. 💕🎶

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks SkrtSkit

[@williamwelch7]

Thanks Randy

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks for commenting William.

[@MyOLD36chevy]

When you said you were doing the hard hive first. It reminded me of a welding job I worked a long time ago. I wanted to do the hardest of the 3 weld first but my older and wiser welder said no we are doing the easiest one first. Because if we don't the foreman will do the easiest one!

[@628DirtRooster]

LOL Smart man.

[@MyOLD36chevy]

@@628DirtRooster Yes he was.

[@tommychew6544]

Glad to see you showing some of your archived videos! I couldn't handle that type of heat now day's, heatstroke #2 would due me in. Great photos at the end as always!

[@628DirtRooster]

Me and Pete were both about to fall out. I'd call it the Dirt Rooster two stroke if I thought anybody would get it. :)

[@tommychew6544]

@@628DirtRooster Those two stroke engines were stronger but, the human body can only take so much. Mine was pushed too far almost 40 years ago, I can't climatize anymore, it sucks to get old.🙂

[@dennisbarney869]

Great video, Is that the most hives in one location. I have yet to do a multiple hive as of yet. I have one coming up in about two weeks that i know have been there for over 2 years so hoping its a good one..

[@628DirtRooster]

Five is the most I've seen in one location. That was the second time I ran across five at one property. A friend of mine (Sacramento Beekeeper on KZbin) just put out a video three days ago where they did ten at one property.

[@NPRYRS]

That is definitely a quiet area🤯

[@628DirtRooster]

It is a very large but peaceful neighborhood. It has a lot of retirement age residents.

[@YappyBeeman]

Im loving Pete in that Yappy Orange tshirt. I see who is the cooliest cat in the neighborhood. I can't even get one in that color!

[@628DirtRooster]

Stuntman Pete gets special consideration since he's representing the Dirt Rooster brand all the time. :)

[@steveholder7289]

Looks like a good spot for some swarm traps!

[@628DirtRooster]

It really is. Low land runs all through there.

[@evonnewhalen9794]

You take some really beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@628DirtRooster]

You are so welcome. I wish the end ones on the pier were better but they were cell phone photos.

[@penzame12]

Great as usual! Thank you!😁

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks again!

[@TennesseeTim73]

Another great video!!! Keep up the inspiration Randy!!!

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks so much Tim! Will do You keep them rolling as well.

[@stevensbeeco767]

Four hives in their walls?! I bet they feel lucky. 🤣

[@628DirtRooster]

Time to hit the casinos.

[@Objective-Observer]

2 gallons of water in one day, that's pretty normal for a Texas summer and outdoor work. I live in a semi arid region, and the wind will suck the moisture out of your body so fast. Glad you were mindful of your limitations in that heat and humidity.

[@628DirtRooster]

I've not spent much time in the desert in the summer but I've heard that you dry out as soon as you start sweating.

[@jamesbaber1582]

That looked like a rough job Rooster!! I miss having my bee hives and can’t afford it at the moment

[@628DirtRooster]

Hope you get back to it some day.

[@paulcollin1398]

That's a lot of bees in one house 👍

[@628DirtRooster]

Thankfully we caught them when we did. There were more open places for hives.

[@paulcollin1398]

👍 still cold in Devon uk won't start looking at my bees until mid April I can't wait

[@sheilaburger4160]

So, do you have 4 buckets or something when vacuuming up that many bees? How are you keeping them separated?

[@628DirtRooster]

We had two buckets and did them over two days.

[@tommychew6544]

I wondered that also, might have to join some.

[@DRIECUTHoney]

Homeowner had a whole apiary, lol

[@lisaleeper9399]

Great job!! Love the video! While wearing my 628 dirt rooster shirt!!

[@628DirtRooster]

That makes it even better.

[@derekspence6994]

will we see you soon?

[@628DirtRooster]

Sure will

[@woodmanhugh]

You guys have a great channel . I look forward to your videos. The live videos not so much.

[@628DirtRooster]

I'm with you there. That's why you don't see many live videos on this channel.

[@williamparry1738]

It will go well super Pete is on the job😀

[@628DirtRooster]

Stuntman Pete to the rescue

[@Starrynightdiner]

I can’t believe it is so hot down there already. Or is this old footage?

[@turnerg]

Betting it is old footage

[@628DirtRooster]

This was July 2022. Check out the full story in the description. It's probably more interesting than the video. lol

[@turnerg]

@@628DirtRooster video was plenty interesting, thank you for bringing us along on your adventures!

[@YappyBeeman]

Does that Filet O' Honey come in a combo meal? I will take a large to go please.

[@stevenaamos]

Obviously with a Diet Coke, but what side?? Maybe fried Cheese curds.😁

[@628DirtRooster]

DQ is a mile from this property and they have pretty good cheese curds.

[@dennisbuck4139]

I got to say you and your wife look to be a beautiful couple. Thanks for the videos…

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks 👍

[@scottcollins6596]

Just curious, how much does it cost to remove a hive. Does the owner of the removal get to keep the honey.

[@628DirtRooster]

Depends on a lot of factors.

[@zalmaflash]

At 9:33 What are the chickens eating? Some sort of larvae but what kind?

[@628DirtRooster]

Those were black soldier fly larvae that were in and under an old bag of cut out comb I threw out for the chickens to work on.

[@zalmaflash]

@@628DirtRooster Thanks

[@gunlinebees.3831]

When you're into multiple colonies like that, are you just combining colonies when vacuuming?

[@628DirtRooster]

It really depends on the conditions of each colony. These were collected separately.

[@gunlinebees.3831]

@@628DirtRooster Roger that!

[@Brigidz]

I'm wondering why customers don't move stuff out of the way themselves so you have good access to the hive. It would save them money and you time.

[@628DirtRooster]

It's like this on almost every job, especially if they are tenants. People rarely move their stuff even when we ask that they clear space before we get there.

[@InsaneFirebat]

Smoked honey doesn't sound too bad to me, but I'll take your word for it.

[@628DirtRooster]

Smokey flavor isn't bad to me but you can tell when it's there. The honey in the first hive on this job tasted bad even without smoke. The rest of the hives tasted fine though.

[@InsaneFirebat]

@@628DirtRooster lol I thought you were just saying that so Pete wouldn't want it

[@628DirtRooster]

@@InsaneFirebat Ha!

[@breau8]

Great job I’m hoping for some swarms this spring. I lost all of my house to an outbreak of wasp that we had this year in Washington. One of the commercial beekeepers told us yesterday he lost 25 fives. That’s just so devastating. It makes my heart sad I love doing bees, but I’m going to take a break unless I get some swarms then I’ll thrive on those, it’s been very hard here in Washington. I never lost a high in Nevada for eight years and came here to Washington. Oh my what a difference can’t even seem to keep them going. Oh well I’ll try again soon. Good job dirt rooster.

[@628DirtRooster]

I hope you are blessed with a few swarms. :)

[@AuditRecon]

5 hives each with a separate queen. What a good couple of days. Was this recent or last year?

[@628DirtRooster]

This was July 2022

[@AuditRecon]

@@628DirtRooster I thought so. February 2024 not a heat wave. Thanks for the great videos.

[@nesralyaj]

Love the photo segment at the end of the video! It’s a shame you had to come back to the same spot twice, but sounds like you fixed it up nice since it’s been a year and a half and they haven’t had any issues! At least it seems like you were paid good for it, judging by the title haha

[@628DirtRooster]

Some people are such sweet customers I feel bad even charging. This was one of those.

[@nesralyaj]

@@628DirtRooster As someone who works in freelance, I definitely understand that

[@brokenpines8491]

Great story Rooster, you did look HOT> latta Bees right there for sure. Thanks for sharing this story and your hard work.

[@628DirtRooster]

We were smoldering out there.

[@randlerichardson5826]

Hey Rooster and to your friend I can’t remember names

[@628DirtRooster]

I'll tell Pete hello from my friend Randle.

[@fullscale4me]

When I first glanced at the thumbnail I though "he's gonna need Pete on this one!" Then when the video opens who do I see :-)

[@628DirtRooster]

Pete is my hero, sometimes. :)

[@SandieBrecken-ik9uk]

I don't see anything in the description on those videos

[@628DirtRooster]

There is a full story in the description. Hope you find it. It’s pretty interesting if I do say so myself. 😊

[@beckyschlegel6777]

Would have liked to see more of this video? What happened?

[@628DirtRooster]

Hi Becky See the full story in the video description.

[@W4iteFlame]

Well, that sounds like a record number of hives

[@628DirtRooster]

It is for me but I have friends who have done more.

[@shammi8133]

Well it can be expensive or they can move. Yea probably going to be cheaper this way.😅

[@628DirtRooster]

Yeah, moving ain't cheap.

[@randlerichardson5826]

Bunch of bees 🐝

[@628DirtRooster]

Plenteeee haha

[@htownblue11]

Came for the hive removal, stayed for the photos at end.

[@628DirtRooster]

I appreciate you hanging in there.

[@wheelsmcdealsace]

would place bee boxes on every side of the house after that bill.

[@628DirtRooster]

That neighborhood is a nice place for bees, obviously.

[@markpashia7067]

Are we going to have to run a Go Fund Me to buy Randy one of those portable AC units they are using in campers these days? About the size of a kitchen trash can and use 110volt cord just to blow some cold air on him on these summer days. They won't do a lot but every little bit helps. About enough for a U haul trailer if closed in.

[@628DirtRooster]

I'll take it! That would be a welcomed addition to the job site.

[@walterhiegel3020]

Paul Harvey...who's that? Well I know who Paul Harvey is but your younger viewers may not know who he is? Younger viewers like Kamon Reynolds...and others.

[@Starrynightdiner]

I know❤

[@628DirtRooster]

LOL Kamon lives in the woods. They probably still listen to him on their lunch breaks. Don't tell them it's reruns.

[@tommychew6544]

@@628DirtRooster That's funny🤣

[@Beeloft]

Paul Harvey if I were the devil. It’s on KZbin great listen. From the 60’s before I was born. Younger listens need to listen to some Paul Harvey it will open your eye. Another great video rooster.

[@tarheelbeekeeper3971]

Randy what you think makes that house so attractive to bees? I mean five hives and you’ve been there before

[@Diamond.1978]

First

[@628DirtRooster]

How you been bro?

[@Diamond.1978]

@@628DirtRooster we are good

[@kathysarmcandy1992]

Someone have an apiary nearby? Hard part if trying to seal up a location after. That's a looot a caulk. I'm running away...

[@628DirtRooster]

There is an apiary within a couple of miles but there are more feral colonies in that town than you can shake a stick at.

[@Synathe]

you know... I wonder if the hives were genetically related...

[@628DirtRooster]

Good possibility

[@firestorm2k2]

@628dirtrooster grate photos man

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Firestorm

[@firestorm2k2]

@628DirtRooster I recently upgraded to a sony a6500 use a 16 to 50 mm a 55 to 210 and a 150 to 500

[@628DirtRooster]

@@firestorm2k2 Those are great cameras. That long lens should help you get some amazing images.

[@firestorm2k2]

@@628DirtRooster it already has 😆 I will get some stuff together

[@joanneganon7157]

Holy guacamole, angey Bees🫢! I'm glad you got them all👍. Stay tuned next time for the continuation... JO JO IN VT 💞

[@628DirtRooster]

They let Pete have it. lol