2013-2014 Hive Losses

[GSF]

I've been reading here and elsewhere about how a lot of folks have lost a lot of hives over this past winter. I'd like to see folks post how many hives/nucs they had before winter and how many they loss and what is the "normal" loss. This could be interesting. Thanks.

[Moots]

Went into winter with 10....Lost one in early February, so I was at 9, with another that I'm afraid has a failing queen, So I have it atop a double screen board above a swarm I caught and will probably end up combining it. 

I've caught and hived 3 swarms from my own bee yard, and have another that moved into one of my swarm traps yesterday that I haven't dealt with as of yet.  Yeah, I know, I obviously still have a lot to learn about swarm management! LOL!  :-D  As well as two swarms collected from other locations.

So I'm currently sitting at 14 hives, 13 not including my Observation Hive....plus the one in a swarm trap Nuc. 

This is really on the high end, actually above where I would want my hive count, but I just have a hard time saying no when an opportunity to grab some bees presents itself.  As a matter of fact, I went look at a cutout yesterday and told the people I'd do it for them. :-/

There's just a certain comfort level in numbers...When I had two hives and lost one, I was crushed...When I have ten hives and lose one, I'm like, "Oh well! it happens, move on!  :-D

[Vance G]

Thought I had it figured out but I have lost 7 out of 23 and still a month til dandelions.  three were queen failures.

[BeeMaster2]

I had 16 last fall, sold 4 during the winter, lost one that lost its queen, combined it with another hive. Split 6 of the hives and now have 17 hives. I also lost my OH but saved the queen and put it in a split.
Due to weather and being busy with other projects I missed splitting 5 hives and they swarmed out and could not be split. One hive in a single hive out apiary swarmed and built back up and already has 2 medium brood boxes plus has a medium super completely filled with honey. I put a drawn super and a foundation on it and will not me moving to the farm because it is so large.
Jim

[splitrock]

went into winter with about 100, and am down to 60 couple, so I am at about 40% loss.... So Far.

Still, we have a little while to go, like Vance said. We will have 50's today, so I will be getting to see some good activity at the feed.

[rbinhood]

I don't like to count losses.....unless it is through some fault of my own.  A loss by means of nature, I look at it as culling the weak genetics of my stock. 

[sc-bee]

My losses have always been low till this year. Lost 5 of 12. Probably due to sorry beeekepping but i wonder because all my losses were in the same yard near the peach fields?

[HomeSteadDreamer]

Went into winter with 5.  Came out with 5. No losses.  Split one of the smaller hives and caught someone else's swarm. up to 7 now.

[BeeMaster2]

I don't like to count losses.....unless it is through some fault of my own.  A loss by means of nature, I look at it as culling the weak genetics of my stock. 

I agree. Natural culling does strengthen your apiary. It is tough loosing them though.
Jim

[Switchback]

I started the winter with 3 ended with 2. The one that I lost was a late cut out. But it did have honey left. We had a long (4-5 week) sub-freeze spell that kept them from the honey.

[RHBee]

Wintered 14 all survived. 5 caught swarms later at 19. I have 6 packages coming in June. When all said and done I want to winter no more than 20 this year so I'll be combining real soon. Will have nucs with reserve queens just in case.

[10framer]

went in with 9, 1 starved and had 1 queen failure (combined it),came out with 7.  i've made 3 5 frame deep nucs and plan on making a few more this week.  i'm going to start several 3 frame mating nucs in a week or so.  i plan to go into winter with at least 30 this year.  

[greenbtree]

Just lost my smallest surviving hive last week in a cold snap (it dipped down into the teens again).  Grrrr!  It is so frustrating to get them so close to making it and then lose them.  :'( My other surviving hives were bringing in pollen yesterday for the first time.

JC

[GSF]

just keeping the thread alive..

[Joe D]

Went into winter with 5, lost 1, they lost their queen.  Back at 5 now.
My bees didn't make a lot of honey last year, so I left all they made for them.  On first check one hive had 18 or 19 frames of brood, I had left the supers on.  They swarmed and went to the hive I had lost, I hadn't put it up yet.  How strange is that.



Joe

[drlonzo]

Went into winter with 3 nuc's , had a really bad cold snap with subzero temps for over a week, lost all 3 to starvation.  Now at 10 with packages picked up on the 5th.  Plan to go into winter with 30 + full double deep hives running all russian at that point.

[BeeMaster2]

Went into winter with 5, lost 1, they lost their queen.  Back at 5 now.
My bees didn't make a lot of honey last year, so I left all they made for them.  On first check one hive had 18 or 19 frames of brood, I had left the supers on.  They swarmed and went to the hive I had lost, I hadn't put it up yet.  How strange is that.



Joe

Strange!!!
I would call it GREAT.  :-D
Jim

[GSF]

bump

[hjon71]

My 1 hive survived.

[BeeMaster2]

My 1 hive survived.

Congratulations.  :piano:
Did you treat your hive with any chemicals?
Jim