tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post8518209068063369218..comments2024-03-26T12:17:40.771-04:00Comments on Linda's Bees: Disappointing Day - Difficult Start to the Bee YearUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-30744750504479414802013-02-28T22:41:08.642-05:002013-02-28T22:41:08.642-05:00Linda,
I'm sorry for your loss. I found one o...Linda,<br /><br />I'm sorry for your loss. I found one of my two hives dead today with similar circumstances. There were bees taking pollen into the hive just a few days ago. Is it possible that they just lost their queen? I did have some hive beetles, but I don't see any slime in the honey. <br /><br />My strong hive just a few feet away the bees are checking the empty one out already. Do you think I should destroy the honey? <br /><br />I really appreciate your blog; you are very helpful to this new beekeeper!<br /><br />Cadron Creek Creativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06880897229605482128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-19666003728260258472013-02-28T16:15:23.666-05:002013-02-28T16:15:23.666-05:00I did put that one super on the hive at the old ho...I did put that one super on the hive at the old house....hope I didn't kill one of my few winter surviving hives.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-75784873315296637812013-02-28T15:25:18.396-05:002013-02-28T15:25:18.396-05:00Just to be clear, Max F, I don't neglect my be...Just to be clear, Max F, I don't neglect my bees - I am constantly interrupting the brood cycle by splitting or using powdered sugar, although Jennifer Berry now says it is an ineffective way to go. The best course I think is to take hives that have survived the winter and split them, but so far I haven't had enough do that to have measurable success. I do know any number of beekeepers who do not use any "treatments" in their hives: Jennifer Berry, Bill Owens, Carl Webb (OK, all of his bees are Russians), Michael Bush, Carl Chesick, and I would like to follow their lead.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-56463486576448297802013-02-28T15:21:04.627-05:002013-02-28T15:21:04.627-05:00I have to give a talk on how to do crush and strai...I have to give a talk on how to do crush and strain honey harvest on the 28th so I'm going to use the honey in the supers to demonstrate for the talk - at least it can be useful in that way!<br /><br />Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-39440003490657887052013-02-28T15:20:02.240-05:002013-02-28T15:20:02.240-05:00Thank you - I'll check their website. I agree...Thank you - I'll check their website. I agree about the caution feeding the honey to any other hive. There was no brood dead or otherwise in either hive. All the brood frames were completely empty. There were no heads down starved bees - I have certainly seen that before. Just no bees except for the dead ones on the bottom board. I imagine they died of varroa vectored illness but the lack of brood and bodies bothers me.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-28423794225628062512013-02-28T11:59:05.692-05:002013-02-28T11:59:05.692-05:00Linda, I'm so sorry to hear of your dead-outs....Linda, I'm so sorry to hear of your dead-outs. I know how discouraging that is.<br /><br />If you find any dead brood in the frames and it is obvious the hive did not die of starvation (no dead bees head down in frames and no honey within cluster reach), send a sample of it to the ARS Beltsville (MD) lab for analysis. They have instructions on how to prepare and mail samples on their web site. In addition to brood, they may be able to check out what happened with the dead bees on the bottom board. I'm not sure if they can analyze empty comb; check their guidelines. <br /><br />In the past I've had a really helpful Beltsville analyst call me to discuss his findings, as well as sending the formal report. In my case I had sacbrood (which I guessed, but wasn't sure) that contributed to their loss, along with varroa. (Sacbrood affects both native and honey bees in the spring; researchers have found it spreads through different infected species vising the same flowers.)<br /><br />I hope you can find out whether you have a common cause going on in these mysterious dead-outs so that you can take preventive steps. Without knowing the cause it may be risky to feed leftover honey to survivor hives. Beltsville can give you good advice and also advise you on whether/how to disinfect the woodenware before reuse.<br /> Penny<br /> Pennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-80744607058776181022013-02-28T09:51:21.313-05:002013-02-28T09:51:21.313-05:00Don't mean to kick you when you're down - ...Don't mean to kick you when you're down - obvoiusly you are upset and want your bees to survive and bee successful. That's a good thing!<br /><br />“Let the bees be bees” Really?<br /><br />http://www.honeybeesuite.com/let-the-bees-be-bees-really/<br /> Max Fnoreply@blogger.com