In this video Fred investigates a honey bee attack that leaves chickens dead, hogs off their feet, and beekeepers frustrated by a hive that is overly defensive. Which hive is it? Let's find out!
In this video I investigate honeybees that are behaving much like Africanized Bees, I show you how I find them and then, make recommendations on how to deal with overly, defensive, bees with the potential to kill by stinging in overwhelming numbers.
Here is the Max Protect Suit I wore: amzn.to/2BYnnWW
I wear high-cut Muck Boots: amzn.to/2MFItOH
Trash Bags seriously strong! amzn.to/2PPARqR
CO2 to render bees unconscious amzn.to/2BZPYeH
CO2 does not kill them, but only buys time to wrap them up or take further measures.
UPDATE: Many viewers have asked why I don't use soap and water to terminate a dangerous colony of honey bees. I personally like to have emergency equipment staged and ready. Industrial black plastic bags and packaging tape are easy to stage and transport. In many cases, the action needs to be taken immediately to protect innocent by standers, neighbors, or live stock. Soapy water works, but requires water, soap, and a nearby garden hose to do a proper cleansing of the soap residue as it's very harmful to the bees. All soapy water residue must be removed from every surface. The Bag and Tape method works anywhere at any time without requiring a water source or clean up. Once the bag is removed and most of the dead bees are removed, the components may be re-used immediately with no rinsing or drying out. It's my method of choice and I do also have a portable CO2 extinguisher to temporarily incapacitate them while they are being bagged. Both methods work, I just have this personal preference.
In this video, I answer a local farmer's request for assistance when one of their colonies began to attack and sting their livestock and husband as he began to mow. They hadn't changed their routine, nor farming methods, what changed was the attitude and possible genetics of their bees.
It's late August, the weather is warm and we are in the middle of a nectar flow. You can smell honey in the hives and all of my bees are extremely content. Honeybees can get a little competitive and even defensive more than usual when they have brood, or when a dearth exists which presses them for resources.
We have no answers regarding what changed in this particular colony, only that there was a marked change in their behavior and they launched a full-scale move on the chickens, hogs, and husband. Killing two chickens and nearly putting the hogs in a state of shock as they went off their feet and began rapid shallow breathing. Boar, Sow, young hogs were all stung extensively.
In the end, after evaluating the bees, my advice was to kill the bees and remove the colony by wrapping the hive with thick heavy black plastic. With temps forecast into the 90's, the bees should overheat or suffocate. Several days later, she and her husband assumed the bees were dead as they had fallen silent inside the hive box. So, they began to unwrap the hive only to find them back in action as soon as fresh air hit them. They were immediately re-wrapped.
The hogs survived, the husband's hand is returning to normal size. He sustained more than 50 stings and had to walk down the road past his home before the assailing bees relented.
I was more than happy to go and evaluate the situation and obtained their permission to make a video in order to share about the events on their farm.
Many thanks to my friends for allowing me to share their story!
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