What are normal losses?

[gardeningfireman]

Went out to the hives yesterday. There were about a dozen dead on the snow at various distances from the hives. The screened bottom boards were covered with dead bees. I dragged them out with a tape measure. Got about a quart of bodies between the two hives. Heard humming that sounded like a large population. Is this a normal amount of dead bees, or am I going to be in trouble?

[homer]

I think you're just fine!  Dead bees are just a part of overwintering hives.  Most of those that are dying are likely the ones that were the oldest going into winter.  And the dead ones out in the snow are just a good sign that there are bees alive in the hive!  Humming is always a good sound to hear in the hive!

[mswartfager]

I have similar losses.  I hope homer is right that things will be just fine.  I put up a five foot hight high windbreak made of plastic and this seemed to keep all of my dead bees contained as they are lying on the ground in mass on the inside of the windbreak - almost as if they flew out of the hive, hit the windbreak and slid down to die at the bottom.

[gardeningfireman]

Thanks for the encouragement! I can stop worrying for now!

[Scadsobees]

It is also normal on a sunny day, even when freezing, that some of the bees (the dumb ones, I'd assume) try to fly.  They make it out a ways, but not back.  If they land in the snow, generally they don't make it back.   That accounts for the ones in the snow.  Sometimes within a few hours later you can warm them up and they'll come back to life.

Rick