I'm starting my second year of bee keeping. My first hive has apparently successfully overwintered and I was looking forward to getting an early jump on this year with wo more hives. I installed two packages of bees last Saturday and by Thursday both all all dead. Just a pile of dead bees under the queen cage. One queen never even got freed from the cage. This loss sickens me and worse, because it's probably my stupidity that killed my girls. But I need a liitle help figuring out which of the stupid things I did killed them. I think it's one of these mistakes:
First,I got the bees April 3rd and it's still cold here in Wisconsin. These were ordered last November and I was gambling then it would be warmer now. It was about 50 deg when I installed into two new hives with new frames. I put feeders on both hives and when I peeked later that day there were a lot of bees feeding. I wrapped the hives up but not as good as I would for over-wintering. The temps that night dropped to 28 deg and snowed and for the next four days never got above 40 deg in the day or 28 deg at night with brisk winds all week. I figure the bees made their cluster to keep warm and couldn't get back to the feeder and they all starved and then froze to death.
Second, I made the hives myself out of some old lumber. It seemed clean enough. Dimensionally the hives were right on with figure joints and no gaps. There were some old paint stains and some wood stains that I sanded off before assembling. I painted only the outsides with latex paint. Is it possible the wood is contaminated with something that would kill bees just from them being near it?
Any help would be appreciated.
Quote from: shadowdogs on April 10, 2009, 09:29:51 AM
I figure the bees made their cluster to keep warm and couldn't get back to the feeder and they all starved and then froze to death.
That would be my guess. This is exactly why it is hard to beat the free inverted jar feeder. As far as I'm concerned, they can keep all those hive top feeders, not only do they cost a lot, but have all kinds of issues as well.
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/feeder-compare/
Many years ago when I still did packages, I had to install in a snow storm and all survived fine. The key is to make sure they have access to food at all times. Since they have no stores, they can starve in a matter of a day or two. If you have an extended cold period, a quart or warm syrup over the inner cover hole every morning works wonders. They will quickly consume the warm syrup and you don't have to worry about the temperature fluctuation causing the jar to drip at night because it will be empty. You can change the jar without opening the hive wide open and the cluster can move right to the jar to feed.
Sorry about your losses. Anyone else in your area get packages the same time? How did they fair?
-rob....
Wrapping I think was a good start !
I'll probably catch H double LL for this;
During cold weather I like to wrap and tie a piece of tar paper around the hive, Not really tight-tight or "insulated".
I think the tar paper helps to break the wind, and also during the day when the sun is shining it may raise the temperature a degree or two, maybe that is enough to help them get to some food.
So I'm not the sharpest tack in the box.
I'snt April 3 a little early for packages in Wisconsin ?
Remember it's only a hobby
Bee-Bop
My quess would be that they starved to death also. It just got too cold and they couldn't get to or use the feeder because of the cold. Maybe next time if the situation should arise again, maybe a little fondant or dry sugar on the inner cover. It may have been to cold for them to even take the syrup. So maybe a dry standby type feed would have worked. I do feel your pain but good luck in the future and get your name on a list for swarm calls.
Thanks for all the advice.
I don't know if other keepers in the area had any problems. I talked to the place where I got them and they were surprised and fortunately will sell me another couple of packages. I suspect it was my inexperience that doomed them. I pulled off an early install with my first hive last year, but it was a mild week weather wise so they had a chance to feed and fend off the cold snaps.
I agree with the previous diagnosises.
The inverted jar above, or even some sugar and touching the cluster can be the difference.
Even just the sugar syrup tin from the package inverted above.
Just make sure that it isn't leaking or dripping because that can kill a cluster just as quick.
Rick
You all think that a baggy feeder on top of the frames would be better than the inverted jar during cooler weather ? You would not have to worry about syrup leaking onto the cluster that way.
Quote from: CBEE on April 10, 2009, 01:11:44 PM
You all think that a baggy feeder on top of the frames would be better than the inverted jar during cooler weather ?
You would not have to worry about syrup leaking onto the cluster that way.
Nope, cluster can't feed from a baggie, they must break to make the trek up to a slit. Secondly you have to open up hive to install/replace the baggie on top of the frames.
Small jars of warm syrup each morning is best. They will consume it before night time so you don't have to worry about leaks. Fondant and or dry sugar doesn't do much good for a package either, as they need water to dilute it.
I have two new packages installed with at least two frames of honey in each box. Do I still need to feed? I hate external feeders as they have caused robbing problems. We have been staying mostly above freezing at night and up to the 6o's during the day. Had hoped the baggies would do the trick if feeding was needed.
Jack,
We installed 3 packages last week in Rockland county. We have been feeding all three hives this week with a board feeder. Making bee tea and the girls are drinking it like mad. We did not have any frames of honey to give them. They are all out buzzing around like crazy so I think they will be okay. One package went into a top bar hive that did not make it last winter. But the comb was beautifully built out so I'm hoping it makes it a bit easier for this package.
Peg
Hi Peg,
The baggie works for me with the top entries. I did find I need to put a spacer to make room for the bags though. One more week of feeding and I will leave them full as I vacation in Fla for a week. I hope to split an over wintered hive when I return and bet they will went SW also.
Jack
Shadowdogs, welcome to our forum, why don't you introduce yourself in the Greetings/tell us about yourself part of the forum, we love to hear about new members.
That is a sorrowful thing about the loss of your two packages, very sorry to hear that. So lucky for you that you can get two new packages from the supplier, but a very expensive thing this year will be with that setback. I think that the cluster couldn't get to the syrup, with no food stores, yes, they undoubtedly died. Keep that chin up, the new colonies will come when the weather is a might bit warmer, and now you also have had some very good advice on how to feed the bees. Robo told you some valuable information about the warm syrup, bees love warm syrup, they will turn their noses up at cold, remember that. Chins up, and have that wonderful and awesome day, life, health. Cindi