Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

This Poll is for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan beekeepers only.

I would like to know how my neighbor's in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan faired this winter for colony loses as a whole.  I get the impression for most of us it was a hard winter for the bees with very few if any thaws. At current, winter refuses to move on so I have left this poll open for 60 days and have chosen the option that allows the user to change their vote.  I expect some of us to still lose colonies over the next week or so until winter finally lets the southern air flow up here.  Please state what you think took your colonies out.  If you lost more than 60% please state actual % in your post.

I lost 8 of 20 so far and I have a couple weak colonies that I am worried about if this cold weather does not move on and foraging flights are delayed much longer.  10 day forecast does not show one day over 49 degrees.

I was over at a bee conference at Michigan State University a couple of weeks ago and according to the speaker, the Michigan average for this season is 60% losses.  Lots of people lost bees in Michigan this winter.  This was before this latest cold spell we've been under.  We've been dipping back toward the single digits again last week.  This late March cold spell has been brutal, even for us!  I use heat and/or insulation in my hives so I'm not going to vote due to my unusual configuration; I didn't lose any.

Four out of five are dead outs so far.  My lone survivor is still occupying three mediums boxes.  They have discovered the sugar and frames of honey left but are not taking it much.  They've broken cluster and done some cleansing flights at least twice that I know of but are back in cluster now with these temps.  These bees (and their ancestors) have NEVER been treated with anything and have been occupying this same hive for six winters with only one queen replacement (by me).  They are real survivors, I just hope they can pull through.

We've had temps BELOW ZERO for last 6-7 nights with highs barely reaching freezing (at least the suns been out).  That's even colder than usual and has lasted longer than I can remember for this late in the season.  Must've put a real damper on maple sap/syrup production this year.

thomas

Lost 8 of 8. Already been discussed. No sense :deadhorse:

BB, how many watts are you using per hive? I only used 800 kwh from the grid last year, so burning X number of watts hours per hive per day, is hard to do. But money wise, it would be cheaper than replacing 8 hives.

Jay

I lost 2 out of 5 hives down in Fennimore Wisconsin (SW).  One hive was a late (October) swarm from last year so I didn't have much hope for it.  The other was my original hive from 2 years ago.  Only a small cluster remianed two weeks ago.  Check this past weekend and found it didn't make it.   My other 3 seem to be strong....but I'd feel much better about them if it would warm up!

Chris

At last check I was at 5 of 7 hives surviving (30% loss), but it has been a while since I was out at the apiary and afraid continued cold has taken its toll.  Went into winter with 3 weak hives, so I would be surprised if I stay at 30%. I will likely have to change my vote.

Can't believe that we are still looking at snow in the forecast for the end of the week here in SE WI.  My backyard hive was weak going into winter and I saw bees crawling around the front entrance and even a couple flying last week (at a whopping 35 degrees), but I sincerely doubt this hive will make it much longer.

thanks for putting up the poll.

I lost three of four however, two were five frame nucs that were not insulated. I feel I may have doomed them because they were not built up enough going into winter. The third was a full size hive and I have not taken it apart yet to see what the cause was.

I lost 4 out of 25.   2009/10 was my bad year with over 1/2 gone.

Can I fill out the poll since I grew up in Wisconsin, have 2 degrees from U of Wisconsin, have a WI Badger license plate, and a daughter named Madison?

Hey Bluebee what is your setup for heat/light and insulation?  I had a weak trapout hive that made it through the winter which I heated with two 7watt lights under a SBB set on the ground.  Only turned it on when the temp was in single digits or below.  Next year thinking about putting lights under all 3-6 hives.

MTWIBadger, I say once a Badger, always a Badger!  See my posts "Bee Heater Construction" and "Hive Temperature Calculations" in the Experimental Forum section for details on my setup.  I wintered some small nucs with 10 to 20 watts of heat.  The nucs were encased in 2" EPS Foam.  Sounds like we're doing similar things.  I will probably run with less or no electrical heat next year.  Kind of depends upon how many bees I've got going into winter and the volume of the foam hives they are in.  Basically my goal will be to keep the temp inside the hive between 40F and 60F; ideally using only the bees own heat.  If you size things right, I think that is possible. 

I would also really like to hear from Trot.  I see him pop up on here from time to time but he hasn't said much lately.  Trot's approach made so much sense to me if using a pure wood hive in our climate.  He's practically a Michigander in my book.

As has been said by many beeks before me, artificial heat WILL cause the bees to consume winter stores (meaning; no or little fall honey for you) and the beek will definately have to feed, feed, feed (perhaps all winter?).  

Perhaps more importantly; These bees should not (cannot) be called Northern survivors.

Trot keeps bees in Northern Ontario and does NOT use artificial heat, however, his methods are as sound as they come.  I've adopted many of his methods for 'keeping bees alive' during long harsh winters.  I've been pestering him about writing a book but so far he's not interested.  I also miss him around here, but if you've been watching his posts for awhile, you'll notice he's been attacked for expressing his methods and opinions.  

Do you hear me Trot?  C'mon back to the forum, we need you man.

thomas

PS; Hey, as far as I'm concerned any former badger, gopher or wolverine s/b welcome to chime in.  Open forum means OPEN forum, hey?

I removed my vote after I realized you didn't want to know about Iowa survivors! I was so pleased that 6 of 6 had made it thru the winter when I checked them on a 50+ degree F day back in February.
However, I, <hanging head in shame and sorrow>, killed one hive inadvertently. I had duct taped styrofoam around all 6 hives. When I checked them, evidently a chunk of foam had broken off and unbeknownst to me, had wedged itself between the boxes so when I replaced them, they didn't fit snugly back together. I didn't notice this because I'd left most of the foam in place on the outside, so I didn't see the tilt.
As the weather has continued to warm the bees have begun to become more active. All but that one colony. So I nvestigated it and discovered the poor little dears had lined themselves up along that gap, sacrificing their lives to try to keep the rest of the hive warm. It got so intensely cold, that even their sacrifice was not enough to save the colony. Sadly, it had been a pretty strong hive, too.
Hopefully we don't get another below zero snap, but I'm not taking any chances. The styrofoam is staying on until the 3rd week of April. Typically, by that time, we won't see any negative temps, (although a few years back we had a killer frost in June!).
So here in southern Iowa, 17% loss... :(

My bees all originated from Northern Beeks.  I call them survivors who are still alive.

I remember Trot's posts and copied them over to a word document for safe keeping.  I think he had some excellent ideas and great perspective.  I wish he would return. 

Seven for seven as of Sunday!  But I cheated!  I bought an old Temporary Garage set-up (hoops and tarps) a few years back and tried to set-up an over winter greenhouse but kept losing the plastic so gave up.  One of my daughters suggested that I put the bees in it instead.  I hauled out the tarps and put them on over most of the clear plastic.  I cut out part of the wall on the east side and left the door and clear plastic on the west side.  I then hauled the seven hives in.  I was able to open the door or drop the southern curtain anytime I felt the temp would get over 40 for an extended period of time.  I also built a top insulating box out of 1x6 for each hive.  I put 1/4 hardware cloth on the bottom, a small top entrance and then packed the box with straw.  I would clean out the top portion of straw if we had some 30 degree weather which allowed me to remove the wet straw.  I plan to use the box for syrup feeding this spring by adding a piece of 1/4" plywood with a center slot.  I was also able to pull the straw back and place a piece of newspaper on top of the hardware cloth a month or so ago so I could add granulated sugar in place of a candy board.  Again the moisture on the top helped.  I saw a lot of activity on the top bars of the super (two hive bodies and one super) in January and was afraid they would go through all their store because there were so many bees. 

I have ordered three Carny Queens to split my strongest hives in late April and will add to my diversity (6 Italians and 1 Minnesota Hygienic).  I also plan to use the temp garage/tent in the future!

Greg

South Central Wisconsin

My spring '10 package died out in February '11.  I was kind of expecting it.  I accidentally set off a mass robbing situation (a story in itself) last fall that weakened them pretty bad.  They had good honey stores but during a warm snap in February I think the queen started laying and when it got really cold the next week they couldn't leave the brood to get to the honey.  If I remember correctly, the temp swing was brutal, 40's down to a ways below zero.  So, my theory of my die-off is just that, a theory since I'm pretty new to this and have lots to learn.  My step-dad lost his hive at the exact same time during the big temperature swing.  His hive was very strong with a full deep of honey (running three deeps, UBN). 

I have 3 more packages coming here in the next few weeks and I've been building swarm traps.  I can hardly sit still waiting for the warm weather to get here!

Midwest Wi:  Yep, I know what you mean. Spring usually makes me itch (for bees) something awful.  

Wild swings in temps in Spring do more killing of bees than most realise. I'm sure its why I lost my LONG Hive colony which was doing VERY well until late February (in examining the deadout I found them scattered in small clusters throughout the hive).  

My lone survivor (super bees) colony is hanging in there and as of yesterday (we hit 44F) there are ALOT more bees so it appears at least ONE brood hatching has taken place. Good luck in 2011!!

thomas

checked on my remaining hive yesterday as it was in the mid 40's and sunny and the girls were all over the place :lol:  so I put out the fall honey from the dead hive to let them rob it out.  I think I had a part in screwing up the hive that died.   :'(  live and learn

This confirms my hunch of an across the board loss of about 50% or more.  I think those who have had large losses my also be a little reluctant to share that.  Just talked to a beek south of me yesterday who lost 8 of 11.  When 5/6 single deeps I made up in late July make it with queens from VP queen bees I have to think northern genetics are a must for us.  I lost some of my strongest colonies first.  I treated all for mites and nosema.  I dont think queens from CA or FL cut it unless they are breed from northern stock.  I will breed from my survivors bring in other genetics which I already ordered from the south but in the future I think Ill be much more interested in raising nucs in fall for spring increase with genetics from my survivors and other northern stock.  Local swarms welcome too of course.

Now if spring would ever show up, I could start making up loses.  Geeeezzzzzzzzz.......  this snow is getting old.  I dont think my girls have got one hour of pollen gathering flights in yet.

bee-nuts--what is a VP queen? I'm not happy continuing to get packages from down south, but I can't seem to very easily find anyone doing northern breeding. I'd love to hear more!

I agree strongly about northern queens. All my Carni's survived the winter and my Italians all died. I have a breeder queen ordered from Adam @ VP Queens. If it lives through the next winter she'll be the queen I graft from.

Local bees really do rule :)

thomas

http://www.vpqueenbees.com/ (http://www.vpqueenbees.com/)

Unfortunately he does not have the time to offer mated production queens this year.  You have to settle for virgins or cells which i will.  I absolutely love how his queens wintered with no nosema or diarrhea to speak off and they were very conservative on stores. 

Very nice guy.  He will be sold out before you make up your mind!

Wow $80.00 for a queen shipped from MD!  That's too steep (and too far away) for me.  I'm making my own and "selecting" a few local  acquaintances beeks to do the same.   

"LOCAL BEES RULE"

thomas

Those are breeders for $80, not production.  Last year year I got open mated production queens for 20 I think.  He does not have enough time to deal with them this season.  So like I said its virgins or nada.  Next year he may have them again.  I may try a couple virgins.

Quote from: bee-nuts on April 02, 2011, 02:40:41 AM
http://www.vpqueenbees.com/ (http://www.vpqueenbees.com/)

Unfortunately he does not have the time to offer mated production queens this year.  You have to settle for virgins or cells which i will.  I absolutely love how his queens wintered with no nosema or diarrhea to speak off and they were very conservative on stores. 

Very nice guy.  He will be sold out before you make up your mind!

If I remember correctly his cells are for pick up only. The nice thing about his stock is that they are survivor from non treatment bees.

My goal is to raise my own and/or trade or purchase from Great Lakes survivors ONLY.

thomas

This spring or lack of one is unbelievable.  They are calling for a low of 24 this night/morning in my area.

I was down to 11 colonies.  Now I am down to 9 or should I say last time I checked.  I had to combine one weak one with one that went queenless and one died.  I had or have two more that are very weak and have intended to add some bees and brood but the weather has been so crappy I have not be able to find any good days to do so.  It is dang near May and I think my girls have had three or four half way decent days to gather pollen.  Last year I had my first swarm on May 4th.  I had already made splits on overcrowded hives by now to try to stop the swarming that started May 4th anyway.

I just have this sick feeling that this will be the coolest summer on record. 

I guess I should count my blessings though.  I spoke with my area USDA rep to inform him I wanted to return the fence he loaned me.  He asked if I lost all my bees which I stated no, about half of them and he said I was one of the lucky ones.  He said that most lost everything and were lucky if they kept 20 percent.  Thats just really sad.

Had 19F at 5:30am today with predicted high of 54F (minimally I'll be checking on their stores today).  If they're still alive I'll see them flying.  60's are predicted for Sunday.  If there's no (or little) wind, I'll be digging into my lone survivor with intended result being a complete tear down/clean up, squeeze down with the follower boards I've been building for "all" of my 10 frame supers, and depending on colony size, it seems certain I'll be able to remove at least the bottom box, maybe even the second from bottom (they're in 5 mediums).  

I wanted to do the above a few weeks ago when we had the last warm up, what was it, 2 days??!! And back to subfreezing :(  Spring IS coming, just hope it hurries up.  Its definitely been the LONGEST (harshest on bees) Winter in recent memory.  We've usually got peas planted by now (sure glad I built the Greenhouse :))

All that said, life in the North Woods sure hasn't stopped.  Besides the returning Sand Hill Cranes, We've had a flock of about 100 ring-necks on the pond behind our house (doing their mating thing, so entertaining), along with the usual geese, wood ducks, herons (still waiting for the Green Herons and Loons) and the like,.  Amazingly though, yesterday I 'heard' an American Bittern, very close by doing his 'Onk-A-Chunk, Onk-A-Chunk' call with real enthusiasm 8-)  

After the Gulf oil spill last year there were many around here who thought we might not see the wildlife we'd grown accustomed to ever again, and so far at least, I'm happy to report that many migrating birds have made it back, and despite the rotten weather seem to be relishing the return :) to their Northern birthplace.

I pick up 2 3# packages next week.

thomas