Five And A Half Year Old Colony Removed From Soffit 3/10/11

JP · March 11, 2011, 02:15:29 PM

Yesterday I removed bees from yet another soffit down in Chalmette, Louisiana. This hive had been there since before hurricane Katrina. This colony could easily have been 10' long or longer but never truly expanded their comb sections such as other hives normally do in my area.

We had a front come through which had the bees on their combs for the most part, very little activity throughout the day for a colony with good numbers such as this.

They allowed me to drop the soffit section, thus exposing the hive with no fuss whatsoever, but shortly afterwards began acting defensively. They definitely were on the defense and you could smell alarm pheromone.

As for videography I would give myself a D- on this one. Sorry about that, the sun was not very cooperative and a good part was human error. :-D

I don't expect anyone to sit through the entire video, if you do, you get a gold star. ;)

I did manage to transfer the queen into the set up as I later discovered, once I picked up and was gearing to call it a day. That was a nice treat for such a long day.

...JP

Five And A Half Year Old Hive Removed From Soffit

oliver · March 11, 2011, 02:27:10 PM

A+ for effort and vid, thanks

D Semple · March 11, 2011, 02:46:47 PM

Thanks JP, enjoy all your video's and I have learned a ton.

Question: I'm about Schawee's size and am going to order one of those bee jackets like you wear, should I get a 1X or a 2X?

Thanks. Don

JP · March 11, 2011, 03:03:02 PM

First off, my apologies that you are about Schawee's size, it takes a lot of king sized vanilla shakes to get to "Schawee Size"! :lau:

No harm no foul I hope, just having a little fun at Schawee's expense. :-D

Besides I have to give him a hard time while he's still plump cause he says he's gonna lose weight, but somehow I just don't know about that. ;)

The size jacket you want is likely the average husky. That is what I wear and what Schawee will be getting. Schawee's a little taller than me but our weight is about the same, well he's got me by a few pounds. ;)

...JP

skflyfish · March 11, 2011, 03:45:18 PM

Enjoyed this video, as always.

I am addicted. :-D Not only do I check the local weather out in the morning, but I also look at New Orleans and now central Florida. If NO or central FL are having good weather, then I may get another fix from the video guys (and gal). :cheer:

Thx,

Jay

showme714 · March 11, 2011, 04:23:37 PM

Nice work again JP.

Keith13 · March 11, 2011, 04:55:46 PM

Was that an Ice Cream truck I heard in the background??

Keith

Wits End · March 11, 2011, 07:47:12 PM

you sure make a hard job look easy JP. This is my third year keeping Bees and I have my first 2 cut outs lined up on houses that are going to be disposed of later this year and I am studying your technique.

hardwood · March 11, 2011, 08:35:11 PM

Good one Bro! I have to admit, I somehow caught it on youtube this am before you got it posted here. Sorry that I didn't comment then but it's been a really hectic day (6 swarms!).

That must've been a tough one! Solo (i.e. up and down the ladder(s) a million times all while filming as well) great job!

Scott

vmmartin · March 11, 2011, 09:59:56 PM

I second the A+ for effort. Much time on a ladder like that and my dogs are barkin. Nice jacket by the way.

Dave360 · March 11, 2011, 10:20:07 PM

Thanks
once again

Dave

JP · March 11, 2011, 10:40:37 PM

You people are too kind, I thought the video sucked, Lol!
It was indeed a lot of work, especially since the bees were a little on the pissy side.
Keith, that was an ice cream truck.

Thanks everyone for your Kind words!
I did a removal today, will post tomorrow.
It was a much nicer removal, close to the ground, nice bees.
Very refreshing after yesterday's ordeal!

...JP

schawee · March 11, 2011, 10:44:22 PM

don,it took alot of xlarge shakes to get my size.this year i started my diet, well3weeks ago and weighted 252lbs now im 237 so jp your weight is much higher now buddy :-D i might have to get my jacket taken in so it will fit better.my target weight is 200lbs.by the end of the summer :piano: ...schawee

JP · March 11, 2011, 11:04:54 PM

I'd say it's vanilla shake time buddy! :-D

...JP

jmblakeney · March 11, 2011, 11:55:47 PM

Nice job again. I enjoyed it JP. Once again, I'm envious. :-D

D Semple · March 12, 2011, 02:53:03 PM

Quote from: schawee on March 11, 2011, 10:44:22 PM
don,it took alot of xlarge shakes to get my size.this year i started my diet, well3weeks ago and weighted 252lbs now im 237 so jp your weight is much higher now buddy :-D i might have to get my jacket taken in so it will fit better.my target weight is 200lbs.by the end of the summer :piano: ...schawee

New to this forum Schawee, I didn't know you posted here also. Appreciate your hard work keeping JP honest and not letting fame go to his head in all the great bee removal videos.

JP thanks for the heads up about the vanilla shakes, my wifes been insisting for years that I have a beer gut, I'm looking forward to setting her straight. :-DWill order the bee jacket as soon as I get some more stash hole money, I've already blown my bee budget this year several time over.

I'll try to video one of my removals later in the spring.

Don

G3farms · March 13, 2011, 09:14:11 AM

JP you are a real trooper to get that one out, worked all day and past dark.

JP · March 13, 2011, 02:48:09 PM

I looked at the video again and it gave me a certain peace as Annette would say. :-D

My regret was that I didn't get more comb transfer footage but it was a little rough that day and I guess the bees being a lil pissy, being up on the ladder and the sun not being very cooperative had me side tracked a bit.

Got to tell y'all that this job plum wore this plump coonass out!

...JP

AllenF · March 13, 2011, 08:47:15 PM

I think you did real good with that video JP showing all while working by yourself.

JP · March 14, 2011, 01:38:37 AM

Thank you Allen.

...JP