Beekeeping Decisions | Resulting Mistakes | Mites & Robbing

Beekeepers, like anyone else, have to make decisions on the spot, and they aren't always the right ones or the ones that work out. Well, I got back off the road and I realized there were a few decisions that could have been made better. But I can't cry over spilled milk and I need to move on and get these bees ready for the fall flow and soon enough, winter. Let's go out and see what I found today in the bee yard.
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Thanks for joining me in my bee yard here in Louisiana as I share how I maintain my beehives. My videos are not meant to be 'How To' videos, but simply me sharing my experiences in beekeeping as I learned it from my mentors, teachers, and studies.
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[@Steele_Wings]

Sorry to hear that. That covid still hits hard and fast. NC is a hot bed during the summer for it. It hits the chest fast.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, even though I was negative, it sure hit fast and felt like it was. If it was, I got me some more antibodies naturally again. Good for another couple years😁😁

[@loislangley2975]

Thank you for the honesty. Get well soon.

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome and thanks for the encouragement!

[@viahoneybees]

Praying for a quick recovery, Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Tom and Melissa!

[@hein1812]

Hope you get well soon. God bless

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@rudolphdavis2387]

Hope you get feeling better take care yourself.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!!

[@76okpeople]

So sorry to hear this Mike, hope you get better soon.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@brianbennett4374]

Thanks 👍 for the info. Looking forward to the next video

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome and thanks for the support!!

[@emilandrusko8597]

Hey Mike. Hope you feel better soon. 🙏

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@melvinyoder1954]

Hey Mike. Im praying for you. Hope you can recover soon. Take care

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Melvin!

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

I hope you feel better soon.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@russellkoopman3004]

Sorry to hear you're feeling so rough 😢. Hope you are feeling better now or soon.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@perrybarrett3292]

It still amazes me people that have kept bees for years and the mistakes they still make.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, we all try to get it right, but stuff happens. Time and schedules change sometimes. Thanks for watching….

[@jessicafairfax_Bens_Bees]

Thanks for sharing Mike 👍😁🐝 Hope you're feeling better.

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome and thanks so much!

[@nancynolton6079]

Hope you are feeling better Mike.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@mikesbeesllc]

I pray you regain your health Mike. Great information

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Mike!! Hope you’re well.

[@HaasBuzzHomestead9909]

Interesting- Thanks Mike!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

You’re welcome thanks for the continued support!!

[@brucejarrell5707]

Praying for you brother

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@g8rgrl13]

Feel better soon!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@MFB7000]

I put some cappings and a couple frames from my harvest out in the yard and the bees didn't touch it.Auy 10. Is there a little flow going on in SELA? Bees are in the Crepe Myrtles every morning lately but that is for the pollen

[@MikeBarryBees]

Not the case over here. Any little bit of honey and they are going crazy over here. The air venting thru the eaves of the honey house have the been hovering by the honey house. Nothing at all flowing over here. Maybe the swamp or river bottoms are holding something near you. That's best I could think of. We're bone dry over here.

[@royprough1877]

Be well

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@StanGore-mk8ow]

hope you are feeling better Mike!!! Bee Expo coming up in a few months!..yee haw!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yessir, felling better and Lord willing, Bee Expo will be here before we know it.

[@RickeyMcDaniel]

Prayers, MIke. If you were closer, I would come help.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much! I appreciate the thought!!

[@redfish440]

Thanks Mike, praying for a speedy recovery

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much brother!

[@SortOfaBeekeeper]

Hope you feel better quickly, Mike! Thanks for sharing, even though you weren't feeling good. Now that's dedication ❤ and love for the bees 🐝 ❤

[@MikeBarryBees]

I appreciate the kind works! Thanks!!

[@jerrydegroot1573]

Hope you feel better soon!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Gerrie!!

[@tomkingsley4398]

Get your rest, Mike
Your a real trooper to push through when the body tells you to stop. Praying for your speedy recovery.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Tom!!

[@Bourbonsouth47]

Sounds like Covid it's running wild right now ! Fatigue is common factor ! Hope you get 2 feeling better

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@titussmith1643]

Hey Mike, thanks trooper! I pray for your fast recovery. We truly appreciate your dedication and your hard work and your knowledge.
Take care.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!!

[@dcsblessedbees]

Hi Mike, it's getting to be that time of year. Prayers Mike...

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much brother!

[@fuzzynuggetsbees]

Get better soon, Mike! Prayers for a speedy recovery.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@elli637]

Mike where do you get you probiotics? Did you make your pollen collector? Can you feed your pollen back to bees latter when needed? Hope all is well you were feeling pretty rough. Appreciate your videos. You make everything seem so simple.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I get the Super DFM probiotics from Strong Microbials. As far as the pollen traps, I bought it. It’s a Sundance model. Pollen in this form could be fed back if it were dried and ground back down I suppose, but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it. Much easier to buys a sub. I dry, clean, and sell this as a supplement to people that use it in foods or smoothies. I’m feeling fine these days. That illness I had a while back was about 10 days in duration. Thanks for the comment and for asking!! Take care!!

[@3Beehivesto300]

Wax moth… put the boxes in big black trash bags and set in the sun. 🌞. Cook the wax moth. Couple days in the sun in a rock drivway and the box can be put back onto a strong hive for clean out.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I’ve never done that, but the infestation is too much to even try to have the bees fix it. Maybe the one being robbed out can be saved. The rest I’ll just pop out the plastic foundation and either clean it and re-wax it or just toss it. I definitely wouldn’t mind trying that. Better than trying to free up space in the freezer. Thanks for the comment and the insight!!

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Mike sorry u are so sick. Hope u feel better soon. Have a Blessed week

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much! Blessing to you as well Frances!

[@danlieter5673]

Great video Mike, don't beat yourself up we make mistakes every year and if folks say they don't well there lieing. Hell I make so many I feel like a first year beekeeper 10 years in a row.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much! And thanks for the encouragement!!

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

My favorite bee keeper in the south.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much! That’s so humbling and I appreciate the support!!

[@flowerstreetfarmbees]

Feel better Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Brian!!

[@briancraig6468]

Hope you get to feeling better soon! Thanks for pushing through and getting a video out.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much! And thanks for the encouragement Brian!

[@tarheelbeekeeper3971]

Hope you get to feeling better. Remember we can only do what we can do. Table care

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Randy!

[@johnhudson412]

I started OAE’s this past spring and all my colonies are zero-2 mites each. May not even do Apigaurd this year.. good video!! Hope you feel better.

[@MikeBarryBees]

That’s great. Spring is an excellent time for OAE while the mite numbers are low. I want to make that my spring treatment regiment.

[@goingsouth01]

Enjoyed your talks at NC State Conference! Sorry youre behind and feel sick

[@MikeBarryBees]

So glad you enjoyed them. I sure enjoyed being there and was thankful for the invite.

[@southeasthomestead6093]

Praying that you will get to feeling better soon.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@plusmanikantanr]

Wishing you a quick recovery to full-health. I wonder is it possible to train some temp-workers with Mr.Ed and others in the area so that when you need additional hands, you can call on people able to assist you ? A Bee Training or something like that 😀

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much! I actually thought about something like that. I was thinking how I can always find someone to help in the yard, or with common chores if I’m ever not able, but with bees it’s not so easy. Then I got to thinking about the very thing you mention. I could even call a couple beekeepers probably. When I was done, that’s when I was thinking that because I was so weak.

[@donbearden1953]

Mike, just about my norm now, I’m a day late watching your video. I’m saying a prayer for you and I hope God touches you with his healing hand! You’re definitely dedicated to film a video when you’re that sick! Good luck and may God bless you my friend!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Don!

[@noahG82]

Hope you're feeling better Mike!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@superheroteach]

I hope you are feeling better.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@PeabodysApiary]

Hope you get better Mike don’t over work yourself man.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@brianbennett4374]

Hope your feeling better. Thanks for the video 😊 can you talk more about Beatles and suppers and how you take care of them how long can you leave a supper off without pulling honey etc 😉

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for the well wishes Brian!! I’ve talked a little bit about it, but I can leave supers off with honey, in my honey house, for many days as long as I have the humidity down below 50% with that dry air blowing down thru the stack of boxes. The dry air kills the beetle eggs so they never hatch the larvae. 55% or less air desiccates the eggs.

[@lomavistabeeco]

I bet that Apiguard helped with your sinus congestion! 😂. Hope you feel better!

[@MikeBarryBees]

It sure did. Got some on my veil and had it in my nostrils for the whole time😂😂

[@Steele_Wings]

If you didn't get the other C word then you got the Carolina CRUDD. The big rain caused a big mold and fungal spore bloom.

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

I was wondering if there was a name for it

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, I was negative for the other, but I think this came from up in Niagara. I was up there just prior.

[@hopesadler4000]

Great video, Mike. All you can do is the best you can. Stuff happens. Feel better!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Hope!!

[@nedheadwyoming]

Hang in there Buddy!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@5280Beekeeping]

Good to hear you can’t keep making these how not to videos lol😂 if you don’t take care of yourself, keep these great videos coming. And thank you for all your hard work on these videos and we all know it’s a lot of work

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, it’s a pleasure John. The overwhelming support all of you viewers give me has kept this channel going. It’s really that simple. It’s the audience that just keeps posting comments just like yours that humble me and motivate me. Thanks so much as so glad you enjoy the videos.

[@tommychew6544]

I feel for you Mike, being sick during the heat of summer is way worse than being sick during the winter! It's been decades since it's happened to me and I'm thankful for it! I hope you are able to ease your workload and enjoy the time you have left in the near future. Enjoy the fruits of your labor while you can brother.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much Tommy. I’m on the mend and finally slowing down some. Not long before we’re setting up for winter.

[@michaelfike7542]

Hopefully you recover soon.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Michael!!

[@BugFarmerBees]

Hive beetles? Beetle sucker 5000. 🙂

[@julandy5969]

I made one from your video instruction. So satisfying!!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Just not seeing that many this season, 10 or 15 in one or two hives and the rest less than 5 to none. I can live with that all day.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Wow I could see it in your eyes . I have always thought that summer sick is worse than winter sick . I am doing my second OAV treatments tomorrow. I just ordered me a new full bee suit from Hillco Saturday going to give it a try. I have like five jackets an one vented but I am hoping the less I can ware under a vented full suit may help with the heat 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️. Just a thought.!I may be totally wrong.🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️. Get you a big bottle of Honey an go to bed an get better. Thanks

[@MikeBarryBees]

Yea, I saw it and heard it in me when I was editing. I would edit a while then nap and then edit some more😁😁. I’ve not used any HillCo jackets yet, but like you, I have a few here and there.

[@edwardclark5211]

Dream Big brother 🙏

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks so much!

[@kellymoore4517]

What was the high temperature during your Apiguard treatments?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Anywhere from 90 to 98.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

Hope you're doing better. Do you have a link to the Roger's video you mentioned on mite numbers? Didn't see a link in the description or transcript.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for the well wishes. There is no video to Greg’s talk. It was at the NC State Beekeepers Summer Meeting that I spoke at.

[@5280Beekeeping]

Most importantly is to take care of yourself the rest can wait

[@MikeBarryBees]

Well, I’m finally feeling better, but it was one of those things that really needed done and I figured there was no super hard labor. I appreciate the concern. Thanks so much!!

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

Rest. Sounds like covid. Hope you had a test and get lots of rest. See The Bee Whisperer videos.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I’m good now. I don’t like to mention the word due to the algorithm picking it up and then having a bunch of related messages popping in ads and such. I did test and was negative.

[@philipbutler6608]

I had something and I sounded like I had whooping cough after about 4 days. It lasted for 3 weeks. Had to have antibiotics.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Oh wow, glad you finally got over that. I think this was just the C word. (Mentioning it throws off the algorithm) I’m back to work and feeling better and it was after I traveled. It seems to be going around right now.

[@904bees]

Whats the brand on the pollen trap?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Sundance. Thanks for watching.

[@russellaymond312]

You have to take care of yourself Mike.

[@MikeBarryBees]

I agree. Thanks for the encouragement Russell!

[@RussellSamson-d1t]

What probiotic do use?

[@MikeBarryBees]

Super DFM

[@riobarudo]

Hello mister like 👍
Indonesia Bee apis cerana 🐝

[@MikeBarryBees]

Hello and thank is for watching!!

[@Mattwiththemullet]

If you need help, I don't live far away

[@MikeBarryBees]

I am glad to say I’ve finally caught up. But good to know. Thanks!

[@terryhagen2711]

Get some rest. My biggest killer of my bees this year has been black bears. Walk right through me electric fence

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Terry. Wow, didn’t know you had gotten hit with bears this season. I know Jeff from over north of Lake Superior bumped his fence box up very high to keep them out. As I understand it, sometimes even higher voltage won’t stop them.

[@phillipduncan2497]

Take care of yourself. There a lot of bees but only one of you.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks Phil!

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Sorry you are feeling crappy, get well soon. We had 50 f this morning...felt great. Meadow across the road is full of 'Boneset' blooming with the Joe Pye weed, Goldenrod, and the bees are all over it. It's really time to take some boxes off my Langs and some frames off my Longs. Take care.

[@MikeBarryBees]

Thanks for the well wishes and sounds like you’re getting close to the fall temps already. We’re about 6 weeks away from cooler evenings and mornings.