Unlikely Swarm Trap Really Worked

[@FrederickDunn]

Ok, proof positive that bees don't mind plastic! (';') trash bags that is! That's a first, Randy and Elizabeth :) at 06:14 I'm glad you showed rendering brood comb, I've historically tossed that but may have to rethink my practices. 07:52 let those little wigglers become eggs :) So glad I stopped by to watch! Wishing you all the best :)

[@628DirtRooster]

We might have propolis infused and lemon grass scented trash bags for sale next year. Haha Thank so much for dropping in Fred.

[@emmanueludoh77]

@@628DirtRooster 🤣

[@pamelaschniepp6075]

I always like the videos, but I love the photos. 😉 You just keep getting better. And I am ready for a photo walk!!!

[@Chris-zm7kg]

Great stuff. Thank you for sharing.

[@628DirtRooster]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@77Shiloh7]

Loved your video Randy ! I always enjoy the photo's you take .That "JESUS SAVES" (spelled out in Flowers ) was my personal favorite ! BTW : My Son Steven just ordered more honey from Ya'll. Have a wonderful weekend ! 🙂🐓🐝❤🙏

[@628DirtRooster]

Awesome! Thank you to Steven. I saw those flowers beside the parsonage at a church in Clarksdale and had to go get that shot. Elizabeth said "you're just going to block their driveway and trespass across their yard?". I said, "I'm pretty sure they won't mind". LOL

[@77Shiloh7]

@@628DirtRooster My Son takes random photo's and sometimes Video's of the older Historical Buildings in our area (sadly one was demolished the other day to make way for a Car dealership or restaurant . Ugh ! ) Tell Elizabeth I say the same thing to my Son . "Be careful not to trespass or get too close ". But LOL.. you are correct Randy ...I have a hard time seeing someone at a church getting mad at you (That wouldn't be very Christian of them ) because you saw their beautiful flowers and message and wanted to get a picture. Love that Honey too. Can't wait . It was so good , we got double the amount this time . Ya'll take care .

[@chriskron2512]

I'm seriously surprised you don't have a larger following !! Always good clean content for the family! Plus informative, and entertaining! Great cinematography, and backing music track.. You are so calm and easy going around the bees and informative during the removal process.. Im not sure how I stumbled upon you channel but Im damn sure glad I did! Im an ole South Florida boy now relocated to NC.. Ive always been interested in bugs, the out doors, and all things nature.. Thanks for making, sharing, and celebrating "Our Wild America" ~ Marty Stouffer

[@628DirtRooster]

Having to grind to make it happen keeps me humble. 😁

[@baneverything5580]

I always share his videos trying to help.

[@Susietacoma]

This video was so interesting that I had to watch it four 4️⃣ times. I will probably watch again. I don’t have bees 🐝 but this makes me want to house them where I live.

[@petewg56]

Your photography is awesome! Thanks for another great video !

[@628DirtRooster]

My pleasure!

[@Bacoprah]

Man I love your photography. /also cool capture(s). Cheers from PEI Canada, Bryan

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks so much Bryan

[@richbooth8948]

Hey Randy! Thinking about you with all the nasty weather you got last night. Hope you and you and your family are safe.

[@628DirtRooster]

Thanks Rich. We're good. Thankfully all we had was heavy rain for a couple of hours.

[@aleset1]

I love the videos but man I am SO here for the photos at the end!!!!

[@628DirtRooster]

That’s my favorite part too. Haha

[@chrisfurlough466]

The new "Trash bag NUC" by Wham-O

[@628DirtRooster]

😂

[@davidlewis4179]

Love the gray silky. We have two white silkies.

[@628DirtRooster]

We picked up five more yesterday. Two blues and three whites.

[@davidlewis4179]

@@628DirtRooster the silky chicken give small eggs prefect for hardboiled. Make the right size for snacking.

[@FrederickDunn]

They make wonderful broody hens :)

[@FrederickDunn]

Silkies make wonderful broody hens that can hatch eggs from any of your other birds for you :)

[@thefilamentcorner]

Very cool catch, I caught a swarm in 2023 on April fools, but this year the first one came on the 5th. I don't have any chickens to eat the maggots here. Last time I had em slime a box out I took my torch out there and cooked em all in the box. Didn't want all those babies to become adults and come back next year. I like your idea of just cooking them in the wax. You can slather a small bit of that slum gum on new equipment to entice a swarm, but I know you have the old well used and worn out equipment like me lol. You have a great week Randy!

[@628DirtRooster]

Slum does make a good attractant.

[@jbnnm657]

What's slum gum?

[@thefilamentcorner]

@jbnnm657 Slum Gum is just what remains after rendering wax. Generally, it refers to rendering brood wax and includes stuff like the pupa castings and shed larvae skins. Randy's Slum gum here will include chilled brood and small hive beetle larvae. It has multiple uses like making fire starter, fertilizer, and bear bait.

[@jbnnm657]

@@thefilamentcorner ty. Ty.

[@gregdunn8208]

Yep, that an odd place to set up housekeeping. Bees do some strange stuff! Love the picture show !

[@rtxhoneybees]

That was cool! And you also nailed the pronunciation of All-corn!

[@628DirtRooster]

Ha! I learned how to say it while I was there.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

That’s a crazy catch. Chickens definitely liked it. Never a dull moment around your place. Enjoyed the video and pictures. Really like the black and whites. Reminds me of childhood pictures. My wife’s new company is keeping me busy. It’s nice to catch a break and get caught with KZbin. Take care!

[@dawnstudley3368]

Well you didn’t have to travel very far, and it looks like the chickens are enjoying their treat!

[@628DirtRooster]

Turning maggots into eggs

[@htownblue11]

Randy thanks for always sharing your adventures, and your photos are a delightful ending after the story you tell. Love the photos.

[@clarenceburton9654]

Awesome bees 🐝 and wonderful plcs !! 👍😎

[@edgufler1122]

Thank you very much for the video.

[@628DirtRooster]

You are welcome! Thanks for the views.

[@leecarey4375]

Always a good day when you can get one up on Mr. Ed😅😅😅😅😅

[@628DirtRooster]

The phone calls to let him know are always fun.

[@howardtoob]

Do you want a suggestion on how to reduce the SHB population inside the hives? I had the usual SHB problems prior to modifying my tops and bottoms. My new tops/bottoms have reduced this issue to nearly nothing. I changed my hive entrance and top. You will be amazed at the results I guarantee. I'm not selling - just trying to help. Also you don't need to move a hive to change the location. Just hive them and put a fair amount of branches, brush, etc in the front and the bees will reorient because they have to crawl through the obstruction. Works every time.

[@628DirtRooster]

lay it on me.

[@howardtoob]

@@628DirtRooster This, I hope, helps others drastically reduce the bastards: NEVER use a landing board. Landing boards are a way the dumbazz beekeeping "community" humanized bees. NEVER use a telescopic top. I use ONLY a flat top with a 1" routered 3/8" "channel" for a top/top entrance. ALWAYS keep the bottom entrance 3" wide and close this to 1/2" when no nectar is available. My bottoms are a flat board with 3/4"X3/4" spacer around the perimeter. I cut the front spacer for the 3" (max) bottom entrance. To clarify, the bottom board is the same dimension as the hive body and is spaced up 3/4" to provide walking room on the bottom. The goal is to take advantage of the limited access AND flying limitations of SHB. The SHB can easily land on a landing board and walk into the a hive whereas flying straight into an entrance hole is much more difficult for SHB. They simply cannot hover the way bees do. That's it! Your SHB population will become a thing of the past with this type of too & bottom. Do this before because converting to this setup will still allow the resident SHB to continue to live in the hive. I've used this setup for 3 years now and I LITERALLY have nearly ZERO SHB in my hives. I see SHB in removals I do but they range from 0 to maybe 10 on the bigger removals. The main concern for this setup is ventilation. I use a 2" hole in the tops for feeding with Mason jars. I plug these holes with plastic cardboard shipping tube end caps.Suiwotin 30PCS 50mm/2" White Hole... www.amazon.com/dp/B08H7DMTJM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. To help with the ventilation I remove the caps and place a small plastic plumbing/RV vent over the holes. If you go with these you need to place screen inside the vents so the bees don't simply fly out of the vents. On Amazon RVMATE plumbing vent. I guarantee this system will afford you a great deal of freed up time and comfort knowing the SHB will no longer be a concern. Best of luck to you.

[@628DirtRooster]

What state are you in?

[@howardtoob]

@@628DirtRooster Im in SE NC. Our summer weather is very close to the more southern US states with average summer humidity over 90%. It's always like walking in a steam room. Do you have any concerns about going with the type of tops/bottoms I've been using? I've had heavy bearding prior to the use of the "vents" and the vents help greatly. I doubt there is a way to avoid bearing completely with the population of post flow hives and our main (and usually ONLY) flow lasts less than 2 months. We have little Tallow now but I'm starting to see a whole lot more of it. Our nectar producing plants bloom almost simultaneously and this sucks. FWIW, we get honey from Gallbery, tulip poplar and a few other minor nectar producing plants. We have a really big, late winter, red maple bloom but it goes to hives and I've never tried to get surplus from the maple flow. The hives just haven't built up enough in late January/early February. It's great for raising queens early and drone are very plentiful in late winter. I don't raise queens because I don't want to deal with queen buyers. Many are new beekeepers (sorry for them) and want to talk too much and are the first to complain about a queen they have no idea on how to install. New beekeepers sure seem to know errydamntang😀

[@howardtoob]

@@628DirtRooster have you considered the system I use for tops and bottoms? I'd like some feedback whenever you get a chance.

[@paulf4424]

Bee's love that old comb.

[@sdichampion]

Love the ending. Is that Gulf Shores?

[@628DirtRooster]

Ocean Springs, Biloxi and Pass Christian

[@christalakebees]

That was really interesting. Thanks for sharing! The hatching drones were super cool. And of course chickens, maggots, a cat and awesome photography!!

[@Ittiz]

Wait a second you left a bunch of comb in a trash bag and a swarm moved in? And oh, that last pic, I saw that on FB, posted by someone claiming it was themselves, but I'm subbed to your channel and I knew it was you.

[@dcsblessedbees]

👋Hey Randy.🤣Crazy bees😂That is so cool Randy, I have never seen anything like that before. Thanks for sharing.

[@628DirtRooster]

It was a first for me.

[@buff10751]

Nice photos

[@paulheinrich7645]

Great content. Thanks for posting. Quick question: I received a couple packages of bee a week ago and there were a half dozen small hive beetles running around on top of the sugar water can. I've never had beetles before and wonder if I should install the packages or destroy them to prevent introducing them into my yard. What would you do?

[@628DirtRooster]

Install. SHB is manageable by strong bees and with the help of beetle traps.

[@paulheinrich7645]

@@628DirtRooster thx

[@baneverything5580]

I tried to tell the cops...it isn`t a MOONSHINE STILL...it`s a bee trap!

[@manicoptio9305]

Ah black n white photos - Ive been waiting for some... just need some urban abandonment ones now. Has Tommy had his long hair cut off? How is his antique store doing?

[@628DirtRooster]

I’ve been out shooting B&W film today. The camera is old as I am and I haven’t used it much so I’m not sure how these pictures will turn out.

[@OutdoorRob]

LOL, nice! Sometimes you get lucky!

[@628DirtRooster]

You got that right!

[@jkd0114]

Would love an update….$5 says they abscond

[@TennesseeTim73]

I got a wild looking cutout up here in Tennessee!! Doing it Friday!! Should be a really cool video, first time back on a man lift since they “retired me”. I’m excited!!! Thanks for all the inspiration through the years!! Wouldn’t be here without having watched you. Hoping all is well!!

[@jkell42]

10:46 the seagulls to the seagull poncho was nice touch!

[@Starrynightdiner]

I love the chickens with the bell bottoms. So stylish. ❤❤

[@phylliswestbury5081]

Bee SEASON YEA!!

[@628DirtRooster]

In full swing

[@kellyrick4365]

We need a recap of this one ina few weeks

[@lesliejohnson7247]

Yes! Did you find the queen, Randy!?? Did you film it? Did they settle in okay?

[@628DirtRooster]

I might be able to do that.

[@WrenchHead]

I had a swarm in a stack of pallets. The pallets were stacked about 8ft high, and ofcourse the swarm settled dead smack in the middle. I've always wanted to catch one in my mailbox though 😂, I just think it'd be funny.

[@628DirtRooster]

I’ve taken several off of mailboxes over the years, but never gotten one in a mailbox.

[@GrammyMidwife]

I heard about this and couldn’t wait for the video! Awesomeness! Just goes to show bees will be bees.

[@hatpeach1]

I forgot you did the photography; great stuff!! Love it.

[@Joodster]

Looks like the hens are more than happy to help clean up the beetle larvae.

[@628DirtRooster]

They got their fill and walked off with a bunch of larvae left.

[@FunnyBugBeesandWoodWorks]

Way to go this is my other company. This is Mike Thornton with Pop Pops Bee's. I am on swarm number 20 here in NC. You Louisiana boys are going to have to tighten up.

[@curiousone6129]

Love your creativity!

[@628DirtRooster]

Or my luck

[@curiousone6129]

@@628DirtRooster Sure helps to have both!

[@darthenx2585]

Your a brave man wearing shorts just sitting there messing with that catch.

[@628DirtRooster]

That’s my bee suit.

[@derekspence6994]

Is that your whack Randy ? pity you ve taken the other road of profit dark days! anyway take care and be safe l ll look at the old cut outs AGAIN amazing

[@sandygriffin1898]

Hey - where were you taking pictures?

[@628DirtRooster]

Most of these were in Pass Christian, MS

[@628DirtRooster]

Most of these were taken in Pass Christian.

[@taddrienstra7247]

Ha, you did snag some of Mr Eds old stuff! Look at all that nice equipment on that shelf! Hey, heres a tip I have found to be most successful. If you have lots of brood comb you cant frame up, put the framed stuff in the bottom of a double. Put the junk brood comb top up as loose pieces above, using frames as needed to fill in the left over space. In a week or two, the brood will be mostly out and you can remove the empty comb. Allows them to hatch out and be useful bees, they clean up the mess, salvage resources and saves me from dealing with rotten stinking messes. I now do all my cut outs like this. Since I always have a junk comb bucket when I do inspections, taking out the abandoned crazy comb/ unusable stuff is a non event. Downside, no swarms in garbage bags... Good seeing ya both! Love ya❤

[@donbearden1953]

Randy, how are you, your family, your mom and dad? I hope the eclipse today found all of the McCaffreys doing just fine. How many times so you render the cutout comb to get it to your liking? I know you use it for rewaxing foundation. Do you sell it or make candles to sell? I just can’t imagine how much wax you have to deal with doing so many cutouts. You probably throw away more than I render out. I missed seeing you in January at the conference because of sickness. Hopefully I will get to attend in January 2025.

[@628DirtRooster]

I sure hope you make it to the next conference. It was a doozy. We render twice if we want really clean wax, but only once if we’re just waxing foundations with it.

[@amandaliberty08]

So fantastic. The fact that they were rescuing the brood is incredible to me.

[@MansfieldPestControl]

Awesome to watch, so glad we not yet have them SHB's.

[@leoncarpenter958]

I worry about the cumulative buildup of chemicals in wax. Do you feel there's an upwards age of comb that you wouldn't melt down for reuse? So far doing removals I haven't made the cut off. I melt it all down but i do fret a bit.

[@GrammyMidwife]

I look forward to the “Taco Bell Bee Run” every year! 😂 Love the chickens 🐔

[@dennisbarney869]

Very nice, Are they glad bees or heafty. LOL

[@RayBecker]

Yo...Randy....How you dooin? Looks like you're having all kinds of fun with them bees. God Bless ya brother. I won't get within 100 yards unless I see a Barcode. Love ya Brother. I'll ring a ding ding ya in a few days.

[@628DirtRooster]

Doing great my friend. Hope y’all are as well.

[@shawnh8754]

That's awesome!

[@628DirtRooster]

It was!

[@kellyfoster8903]

❤❤❤ heck, they bagged themselves up for ya.❤❤❤

[@628DirtRooster]

They didn’t ask paper or plastic, they just made an assumption.

[@NancyBryantIdeas]

Thank you for the upload. Yes, that is a different place to catch a swarm, but effective. Also thank you for showing the chickens and the silly cat tagging bees.

[@williamforbes7156]

hey sir, i saw a novelty i wanted to share with you. it's a pot/jar of honey but they put different nuts in it, some around the edge for decoration but just crushed peanuts i think, i got it and i liked the presentation but i'd be lying to you if i said i don't look forward to a bagel toast with honey and mixed nuts in the morning. still enjoy the channel and thanks for making time for us.

[@12bigredd]

:) YEP life of all sorts always finds a way :)

[@628DirtRooster]

That’s a fact.

[@christophebuisson7536]

What a mess in there ! Lol

[@wranther]

That is clearly an unusual bee trap Randy! I wonder if there were any die offs around your area, could you replicate the process again? Probably have to hurry tho, now that I have posted this, probably Mr. Ed and Good Time Charlie are already setting up a couple or 10 disposable traps lol! One thing along with the bee hobbying is the camera work. That is another artform you excell at! Thank you for the bee work and the ending photography! -Bob... PS: Are those actually this year's leaves on the trees?

[@williamwelch7]

Thanks Randy, very cool swarm catch. How's Mr' Ed gonna top that? :)

[@randlerichardson5826]

Hey Rooster 🐓

[@628DirtRooster]

Good afternoon Randle.

[@TennesseeTim73]

Great video too by the way!!

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Randy you win the prize !! Wow, makes sense.

[@BlanchardsBees]

Nice catch!🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@kevinogden4363]

Don't see why it wouldn't, "it's got that smell"

[@628DirtRooster]

That lives in smell

[@stevefarms7494]

It can't get any easier than that.. congrats on a great easy swarm ...

[@beverlysteen]

That is funny!

[@628DirtRooster]

Better to be lucky than good

[@tonyandric4380]

Two things. First, I'd like to see a video with the whole wax processing process from you... without Jeff's fancy equipment! And... put a couple of peppermint candies on top of the frames in the hive. It will drive away the SHB larvae like you wouldn't believe! Not too much, it'll also drive away the bees. But on the rare occasion when I have SHB, 2 peppermint candies, one in each opposite corner opposite. Like magic. God Bless you brother.

[@nortyfiner]

Meta beekeeping, cleaning out a cleanout. Well done.

[@628DirtRooster]

Yes, thanks

[@gunlinebees.3831]

Welp.... That there is gonna be a tough one to beat! 🤔

[@628DirtRooster]

Raising the bar…

[@Swarmstead]

Betterbee will be selling bag hives next week.

[@628DirtRooster]

I need to file for a patent tomorrow.

[@benca6151]

This just proves the swarm trap doesn't need to be 15 up in the air. Awesome catch. Boil them beetles!

[@colleenmurphy1333]

Awesome Randy, when I’m better would love to come to see the gang and do some hive removals and maybe catch a few swarms🇨🇦🐝🇨🇦🐝

[@628DirtRooster]

Get better SOON!

[@philaandrew100]

Well that was different. Top that one, Mr Ed😂

[@My.life.in.Christ]

I’m look on my phone so the screen is small but is that the queen @ 2:27

[@lourensklopper4217]

That "slumgum" is good to use in your swarm traps

[@sarashappyhives1828]

That’s too cool! 😎

[@phillipwasson2980]

Nice! ❤👌

[@wadebarnes6720]

I did it last week I took some frames out that wasn't any good anymore and a swarm landed on them in my lawn mower trailer and I thought it was Rober bee's went out to 3 days later right at dark and notice they was in a cluster

[@kathyhathaway8823]

All you need is the cornbread to go along with it .

[@maryjanebeatty6030]

Good deal! I guess the bees were really desperate for a place to land. Will you call them the garbage bee hive LOl

[@628DirtRooster]

Junk yard bees

[@birdnest5814]

Crazy place for a swarm to take over. Like an old house renovation..get rid of the critters and salvage what you can 🤣😂

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Where's the queen!!!!! We want an update!! It doesn't count without a queen!!!! Thanks Randy!!!

[@adelinawarriner6259]

nice

[@jawharp9467]

My comment has no value to the reader.

[@628DirtRooster]

Oh don't be so hard on yourself.

[@josephrawls]

Now those scout bees need to read the rules and spec book. There was not enough space in the swarm trap bag. 🤣😆

[@628DirtRooster]

I’m going to have to post signs.

[@Burntbranchcreekbees]

Our swarms are just getting started. #2 today.

[@FOXHAVENHIVES]

I thought you weren't supposed to let the rendering wax boil.

[@33MileBees]

Just goes to show Bees will swarm to just about anywhere if you have old comb

[@628DirtRooster]

THE best swarm lure ever.

[@turdferguson5300]

Just because you lucked up on a swarm doesn't mean you don't need to develop this further. In fishing that would be something you'd have to do all your life to learn something like that. When setting up a swarm trap do you not try to make it smell like a hive? Would it not be good to have some honey in it? Brood didn't hurt anything either. Sounds kinda simple but I'm not a bee keeper.

[@markbooth8458]

That's just crazy

[@mark_coyle]

Too many people saying that swarm traps have to be just so….

[@W4iteFlame]

Well, the bees were not joking with this one)

[@CraigInNC]

Even your cat plays with bees...

[@darrylthehorntoadpiper]

Is it hard to get black & white film for your camera ? I’m enjoying the honey I got from you last month. It sure taste different than the honey I get hear in my town in the south west. Keep the videos coming I sure enjoy your channel & the honey.👍😎🖖👅🤭

[@628DirtRooster]

B&W film is still readily available. Kodak Tri-X is my favorite. A get it developed through The Dark Room photo lab. Thanks for the honey order. It’s a different taste every season depending on the rainfall and apiary location.

[@johnsmith7676]

@@628DirtRooster Good lord, they still have that? I was shooting Tri-X Pan 125 back in the early eighties, and printing it on Kodak Polycontrast paper in the darkroom. Good memories. We'd probably get on pretty well, I reckon. Thanks.

[@PaulsBees]

And I worry about the correct volume of my bait hives.

[@628DirtRooster]

I do too

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

A PLASTIC BAG LOL. 😂

[@628DirtRooster]

Most money I’ve ever spent on a swarm trap.