this guy says NEVER BUY BEES

[@morgan971111]

Started beekeeping less than a month ago in Idaho. I have two hives, both caught in a swarm trap within a week of each other. I did buy Dr. Leo's book, and it was worth the money.

[@lynnroberts3839]

I have converted to deep box hives from nationals by adding frame extensions, I got a swarm from a very defensive national hive, put them in a deep box hive, they are so chilled now and happy. I have done the conversion of two other national hives to deep box hives and they are very happy as well. I also have three top bar hives, these are very happy and all treatment free. I love the fact that you don’t have to inspect so frequently and disturb the colonies, they are happy and productive, read both books by Dr Leo and learnt to work in harmony with my Ladies. Thank you. Just by observing the bees entering and leaving the hives-tells you so much, still have enough honey without robbing the bees and do not have to feed sugar syrup, only when hiving a swarm to help with the new comb. Will be attending Dr Leo’s lecture in Monmouth Wales soon, hope to learn a lot more then.

[@jerretthickman4238]

"I am a small time bee keeper, I have about 40 hives"🤣😂 I love Dr. Leo, but that statement made me 😆

[@josephharris1572]

Hi Dr. Leo, I'm currently reading "Keeping bees with a smile" and "growing vegetables with a smile". They are both great! Thank you for your website as well. I am planning to build some Layens hives soon and transfer my colonies from the Langstroths.

[@andrewterry7232]

Hello can you help thank you I have just catch a swarm on layens frames can you tell me how long does the bees take to build combe on these frames best wishes Andrew Terry

[@hamradiotime]

I don't have a hive but I see a lot of interesting facts in Dr. Leo's speech. I am really interested in beekeeping. Even contacted local beekeepers association in UK.

[@phillee2814]

Me too - I'm near Cambridge and would love a few top bar hives (the shape means I can get my wheelchair close enough to lift bars out) but need enough space in the yard to be wheelchair accessible, instead of it's current state of jungle! Clearly, catching swarms may be an issue, as well as overcoming local resistance to natural bee-keeping instead of using pharmacological means).

[@UvThe1st]

I'd love to start beekeeping, I'm in Essex and haven't been able to find anyone as useful as this channel. So many tips & tricks. If you find a great group in the UK please let us know! :D

[@lynnroberts3839]

I keep deep box hives and top bar hives in Anglesey Wales, I’ve followed Dr Leo as well as Dr David Heaf,( ware hives) and Phil Chandler, these people are really helpful so look them up. No local group of people that keep these hives around here but plenty open to the ideas, look at Phil Chandler on KZbin very helpful, good luck.

[@phillee2814]

@@UvThe1st Where in Essex - it isn't necessarily all that far from me in Cambs, and I'm hoping to be mobile soon (I don't think my mobility scooter would have the range though, so need something I can carry it in, and worse, load it into single-handed.

[@UvThe1st]

@@phillee2814 I'm in Braintree but not allowed to drive so pretty limited by buses. Definitely wouldn't recommend loading up your scooter! Haha

[@sarahbrown1894]

I am so thankful for Dr. LEO. It totally makes sense. Just starting bee keeping 5 months ago. I am totally not in agreement in dousing chemicals into the honey or on the bees. Thankful someone is taking about natural bee keeping. 😁

[@bradgoliphant]

I'm so glad I had a chance to learn from the wise prior to restarting back into beekeeping. The only food I will every give my bees is planting wildflowers close to the hive. Grateful for all your knowledge.

[@aliciavalentyn5889]

We ordered a bee (bait) swarm trap from Dr. Leo and it arrived today 🐝🐝🐝🐝 so excited to start Natural beekeeping with wild bees 💞

[@HusaCreature]

I just got mine up two days ago. I'm not sure why I was in such a hurry, they probably won't swarm here for weeks. But, I'm ready!

[@sleeplessinthecarolinas8118]

This discussion clarified so much for me especially the reason that many beekeepers rely on sugar feeding. Thank you!

[@woodspirit98]

Im building a horizontal hive because of watching Dr Leo and you. Next is swarm boxes for spring.

[@daddykirbs]

So fun! check back later and let me know how it's going.

[@larryherbert4317]

Thanks for having Dr. Leo on your channel. Have read both of his books!(great read).

[@ncoppens]

Here in East Tyrol - Austria at higher altitude in the Alps we also have carniolan bees, we have many beekeepers. But they all acquire bees from each other for the reasons talked about by Dr. Leo.

[@buildingwithtrees2258]

I bought commercial bees. Then bought local queens to replace the commercial queen. That was this spring. I now have local bees in sync with my environment.

[@jomiller4397]

I found this very interesting, Mostly because with livestock animals they recommend a horizontal move across America not a vertical one. I am getting that Bees do better that way also. They seem to adapt better and more quickly. Great interview thank you for sharing.

[@thomasrape4616]

I agree that catching local bees is the way to go. 100%of my bee yards are bees I've cought locally. I also agree that the best hives are the hotter hives, they have fewer problems and seem to produce more honey. They will build up faster in spring.

[@Annie.xx-xx]

Wow absolutely amazing information. Every one should hear this. 🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@Everjams-Farms]

Good to know. I have a colony building up in my mom's old RV and wanting to set up several nests around my 30 acres.

[@Skashoon]

Likewise! Exactly the same scenario, even the acreage. Good luck to both of us!

[@trishlovesdogs3188]

Wow! I'm a scaredy cat but Dr. Leo makes me want to give it a try!

[@18Bees]

Trish Loves Dogs do I. I dare you. 😀

[@Noahsoak]

You get over the fear. -). But a stings a sting and they hurt. Lol usually the few times that has happened, I was either rushing, accidentally squished a bee, or was in the hive at the wrong time. ;). Hum, beekeeper error.....

[@racekrasser7869]

@@Noahsoak yeah..but they only hurt for a couple minutes. Then they just itch for a couple days after that.

[@MohamedUAE]

At the minute 5:10 when he said Missouri, my heart stopped! I recalled all the old days when i was in Missouri for real, i remembered Saint Louis University and all the old days back in the Stats lol , remind me of Manchester, chesterfield ...etc...

[@daddykirbs]

ah the memories :)

[@lesleyoliver5582]

Very interesting. Thanks from Australia 🐨🐨

[@aliciavalentyn5889]

Love his thoughts 🐝🐝🐝🐝Keep Nature Wild

[@haroonabdullah1599]

Thanks for sharing Dr. Leo.

[@badassbees3680]

I agree completely, however Back in 19th century there was a TON more forage you didn't ever need to feed ..

[@leroyharder4491]

Been beekeeping without chemicals for 6 years or so, have 45 hives. Still lots of mite pressure late in the season. I raise queens from productive hives that live 2 plus winters. Going into winter, started hives that have a brood break and don't raise drones have the lowest mites. A brood break in wild bees is almost certain during swarm season. Controlling drone production and even removing drone brood mid season is probably also helpful.

[@JamesCrouchX]

Thank you both. Very important and FUN! Beekeeper jokes. LOL

[@KevinBaughen]

Awesome that you guys can attract swarms so easily.... it's not so simple in France :-( Geography and availability of forage are everything to swarm paths. Where you are impacts on your ability to catch a swarm far more than any other criteria, regardless of how high or well-suited your bait hives are.

[@woodspirit98]

Im curious what type of bees the Norse used to keep hundreds of years ago.

[@daddykirbs]

That is a curious question. If you find out let me know.

[@sierrabravo7368]

So I live in Sydney and I have always been taken with the idea of going into the Devils Wilderness which is part of the Blue Mountains national park and finding the long lost swarm with genetics from many seasons past and then taking them home or setting up some mini mating nucs in the middle of the wilderness could also be good as long as I am 5km or more from civilization it should work, but I don't think that too many bees or nucs could be transported because it all has to be backpacked.

[@keithcheeseman567]

Amazing common sense information, you are the Charles Darwin of Beekeeping.

[@18Bees]

Do you have his contact info? Would love to have him out here to the Pacific Northwest to talk about this stuff.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

I live in Ontario Canada I cant raise them because I am visually handy caped but I WOULD LIKE TO ATTRACK BEES TO MY PRPERTY .WHAT CAN I DO?. I need polenatores for my garden .I would like to have them here. But not able to do hives.

[@gonzalezaaronm]

Hi. If all you want is pollination then I would suggest mason bees.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Aaron Gonzalez thank you , what is mason bees ?

[@gonzalezaaronm]

They are small solitary bees. Also known as native bees. They are excellent pollinators and don’t require much work. KZbin them and see for yourself. Chances are you’ve seen the little bees in your garden

[@terry2346]

Plant flowers that bees love. Get the list on the internet or through your local Ag dept

[@H1ST0RYWriter]

Plan your garden to always have something in bloom. Plant whatever blooms first in your area to initally attract pollinators when other sources are scarce. Then, plant things that bloom at different times throughout your growing season to keep them coming back. Remember bees need food throughout the season, not just when you want the tomatoes pollinated.

[@michaelmueller8976]

Very educating interview! TY very much

[@TwoFamilyHomestead]

Dr Leo!!!

[@SouthFlaBeekeepingAndMangoes]

It's encouraging to hear mites can be controlled naturally.

[@daddykirbs]

I do like natural solutions over chemical ones.

[@BrazenSpirituality]

I legitimately want to know, what is the risk or advantages to capturing a wild swarm in the states likely to have africanized bees? I live near Houston Texas and it seems to be likely I would be adding to a problem, not just for myself but to my region, if I housed naturally swarming bees and encouraged drone production, or even allowed queens to be hatched and my hypothetical hive to swarm in the spring.

[@Skashoon]

From what I’ve heard, people like the honey from Africanized bees more than non-Africanized. Go figure, right?

[@HusaCreature]

The advantages of capturing a wild local swarm are many, and Dr. Leo goes into this in scores of videos. But in the case of africanized, the good thing about capturing one of those swarms is that you can kill them and at least those won't propagate any further.

[@kevinsweeney5836]

Like his reasoning, makes good sense.

[@bradgoliphant]

Question for you guys. What if I can't catch a swarm, and I end up buying a package of bees from a local beekeeper that feed sugar and chemically treats. How I will I reverse all this. Do I just stop all the treatments and stop feeding sugar and come up with new plans. Can you speak on this please. I feel this is an issue for a lot of us. Thanks.

[@reginacarroll8149]

Thank you

[@harryvangrieken6950]

Thank you. This was valuable.

[@Dimes4DaDevil]

This is good to know. Southern European strain 🐝 wow. Bees adjust to the environment. Buy local bees. Don’t fight nature, work in harmony. Lots of colonies in Cuba. Than you Dr. Leo and Daddy Kirbs.

[@mikedarkow7788]

very good intake

[@twc9000]

I used to have two hives when I lived in Utah, but I live in Texas now and I'm concerned about the Africanized bees. I'd be interested in hearing comments from people who have experience raising them.

[@daddykirbs]

My opinion about "Africanized" bees in our area is very unpopular. Most people want to "burn 'em down". I'm willing to work with bees that are a little "hot". Most of the time, tho, the local bees aren't that aggressive.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

yes I like Dr.Leo he is so coooooool

[@johnnixon1026]

intelligents brought to common sense! perfect!

[@Jeromy1989]

100 years ago there was way less houses way more farm land wild flowers and nectar sources in general as the countries were way less developed compared to now nothing to do with swarms or local bees

[@jk_wrangler13]

I'm having a hard time catching a swarm. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm not sure if its the weather or if it's me. I know the weather has had its up and downs this year. I'm a new to all this and really want to get a few hives but it just seams like I can't do anything rite. I live in Missouri and we've had a lot rain and it will be cold one day and hot the next. Any help you can give would be great..

[@ebr-fan1117]

TheSportster06c Donyou think that it's still a bit cold this year for swarming in your area?

[@jk_wrangler13]

@@ebr-fan1117 I don't know what you mean about a little old? I'm new to bee keeping, in fact its my first time ever.

[@ebr-fan1117]

@TheSportster06c Spell check changed "cold" to "old". I should have proof read better before posting. I'm new to keeping bees as well, but have read and heard tell that bees start swarm season when it gets into the 60° temps at the least, and moreso when it gets warmer as spring progresses, and also when the hives naturally split as it out grows it's hive. That was why I asked the weather conditions in your area.

[@jk_wrangler13]

@@ebr-fan1117 well will have a day or 2 of good weather and then it gets cooler and rains for a day or 2. That's what keeps them from swarming I'm sure. I'm afraid that its getting to late now in the season to catch any.

[@18Bees]

Wow he’s awesome.

[@HusaCreature]

The likelihood of my having experience with them this far north is slim, but from what I gather, "aggressive" bees and "africanized" bees are two different things. In "Keeping Bees With a Smile" the dark European bee is discussed, and they are a somewhat cranky species when their hive is disturbed (which makes them good at keeping out natural intruders also). Africanized bees will go out of their way to attack and kill your animals on the farm, will chase you for half a mile, and a group will sting you to death if they can. An africanized hive should be killed so that the drones do not pass on that behavior; people re-queen a hot hive, but ignore the fact that the existing drones will go off and breed (that's how a hive becomes Africanized in the first place!)

[@natemurphy4367]

That’s the only way 👍👍👍

[@weetreebonsai]

tweeted

[@knottastu]

I'm pretty sure sugar was an expensive luxury at the turn of the century so feeding it to bees wasn't really an option

[@TheBaconWizard]

The reason sugar wasn't fed to bees over 100 years ago is because it was too expensive, in many cases more expensive than honey.

[@andrewlittlefield3425]

Dr Leo is the bomb

[@andrewlittlefield3425]

Nuggets

[@ronnynorthington2015]

Been beeking for years now and I have NEVER had success with packaged bees... Nucs come deseased or full of parasites... Trapping wild hives is the only way in my apiary...

[@daddykirbs]

I hope to use more wild caught bees in my future too.

[@williamerwin7248]

Is there evidence to support your theory that natural selection can occur so quickly? I would venture to guess that most genetic adaptations take more than 5 years to evolve. And how is it that disease resistant adaptations haven't been compromised by hybridization of feral bees with the huge amount of imported genetics saturating the environment? BTW thank you for such important and useful insights into bee genetics.

[@leroyharder4491]

Look up Seely's work with the Arnot Forest. The bees are not acquiring totally new traits, rather taking existing traits and repurposing them. Or rather natural selection brings these traits to the fore.

[@miltonklinger1506]

🐝

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Keep wild bees - they need more help

[@leonardohenriquez1158]

Africanized bees aren't native to this continent, also one of the greatest biggest mistake ever made by a scientist. Mistake that has claimed hundreds of human life. I hope no one around you comes across one of these wild colonies.

[@markodispatch9271]

Ukray guy hanji or honey

[@tripshobbies2810]

Your wrong here Leo. Carniolan bee is native to Slovenia. My bees are Carniolan bees, they dark and black and live through -20 degree winters every year.

[@joshblick]

Bee collusion lol

[@garrywhitley3748]

Dr. Leo don't want u to buy my bees but he is pushing to sell his books👎. If I bring a pkg. Of bees to nc from ga. In mid March they will have new brood and bees before the honey flow starts. The only place they have ever lived is n.c. dont b so gullible 😆

[@terry2346]

Garry Whitley You do not have to buy his book to follow his advice! So your statement is without merit! And going from NC to GA is not at all what he is talking about! He is talking going from NC or GA to Illinois or Minnesota and than having them die off in the northern winters. Which they do all too often. And also using Langstroth boxes in the northern clime is not reasonable when the temps get down to -40 - -50! Read the information on his website and THINK!

[@Danielle33384]

Terry exactly right!

[@ricksutton107]

He's full of it

[@ytgmbutler]

Jimmy James yeah he needs to sell some books I guess...

[@terry2346]

Jimmy James How so? What is your counter argument? IF you can't put up a rational counter argument then you need not comment.

[@ytgmbutler]

Terry my “counter” argument is Tom Seeley. Have you read “The Lives of Bees - the untold story of the honey bee in the wild”? By the way, Seeley invented the term Darwinian Beekeeping. Beekeeping with a smile or beekeeping with sea moneys... you still need to monitor mite loads. Period.

[@ricksutton107]

@@terry2346 don't you tell me what I got to do

[@terry2346]

@@ricksutton107 Just trying to help you make constructive comments but I guess you don't got to learn huh ok Peace out!

[@crazypeoplearoundtheworld304]

Another simpering Fargo. These guys are so terrible.