Best advice on avoiding "Fall Dwindling"

[specialkayme]

This may seem like a dumb question, or a dumb topic, but I'm looking for advice on the best way/method to avoid fall dwindling.

Every year, I start off the season making a few splits, rearing some queens, catching some swarms. By the end, I usually have a little less than twice the hive numbers I started the spring with. Some colonies don't really take off (happens), some have issues (usually queen related), but most usually make it to double deeps by early June in my area. But, no mater what I do, it seems like I can't maintain the same bee numbers (both inside each hive, and the number of colonies) from early June till the end of the bee season. Granted the colony is supposed to shrink a little from it's peak at the honey flow, but they aren't supposed to dwindle that much.

I've tried making nucs in early June (or late May), I've tried spitting the double deeps into singles, and I've tried just leaving them alone. It seems every year some hives dwindle down to one (or a half of one) deep by mid to late August, some hives dwindle down to a few frames, and some hives just straight up abscond. There isn't much (if anything) blooming in my area from July to August. I've tried feeding, which maintains numbers but costs an arm and a leg and often promotes robbing. I've tried treating for mites early, hoping they wouldn't dwindle down from mite related "depression" but it doesn't seem to make a difference if I treat once in April only, in April and August, or in April August and a knock down treatment in June.

End of the day, I always have hives dwindle down in population, and it often results in a loss of 10-30% of my colonies (sometimes more). This isn't my first rodeo (11th season), but this is just one thing I can't seem to crack. If I could end the season with the same number of colonies, of relatively similar strength, that I had in June I'd be good to go.

Any suggestions?

[RayMarler]

Here is what I think of it with my hives in my location.
Varroa mites, number one problem.
Dearth, lack of pollen for raising healthy bees, number 2 problem
Genetics of the bees, this is partly tied to number one above.

I have different genetics this year, I've treated for varroa, and I've kept up on both syrup AND pollen supplements when needed. Hives are looking better this year at this time of year than for the past three previous years.

[specialkayme]

I'm sure I'm being naive, but I don't think my area has as much of a lack of pollen in July/August as a lack of nectar. They'll suck through a deep of capped honey in a month, easy. Nothing coming in. But again, the lack of pollen may be more prevalent than I think (probably, actually).

Last year I tried feeding most of my nucs throughout July/August to keep numbers up. It invoked robbing like crazy at times. Even when it didn't, a hive could go through a gallon of syrup at 1:1 or even weaker a day. At 20-40 hives, that means 20-40 gallons of syrup a day, or 80-160 lbs of sugar a day. Cheapest I can find sugar is at BJ's in 25 lb bags at $0.41 /lb. Sometimes a little less. But still, that equates to $32.80 or $65.60 in sugar A DAY! They don't always take a gallon a day, but still. They can take a gallon a day for several days in a row easy.

I didn't want to try feeding longer. My pocket book couldn't take it.

I tried open feeding before, but they can clear out 10 gallons of 1:1 in a few hours. Spooked me on what they could really do if I kept providing.

Maybe feeding really is the answer. But I'm hoping I don't have to throw out $2k to $4k over the course of July/August to keep the numbers up. Economically that doesn't really make sense.

[GSF]

Just remember all this cost when you go to sell your honey next year. One quart of honey should just about buy a 25 lb bag of sugar.

[specialkayme]

True. Just wondering if there is another way other than throwing $2k in sugar to the bees for purposes other than prepping them for winter (although you could consider preventing fall dwindle as prepping them for winter . . . ).

[iddee]

I would say get a few outyards. Around here, 15 would be the max I would try to keep in one area. Blooms are just too sparse in this area for that many hives.

[specialkayme]

Good advice Iddee, but I already do.

I keep 10-20 at my home yard, and then another 15-25 at an outyard in Liberty. I'd be lying if I said the outyard didn't, at least occasionally, get up to 40 though.

Maybe I should spread them out a little bit more though.

[CBT]

Your hives cannot grow really strong on syrup alone. They need protein. Yes it is more money but as stated earlier for every dollar spent for protein and sugar the more bees gathering honey for your profit and as they go into winter strong they are more likely to be strong into spring. Remember 50000 bees can gather twice the honey 35000 bee can. Just my two cents.