Author Topic: lost all my hives (Read 8678 times)

Kathyp · « **on:** November 30, 2013, 01:03:19 am »

confession time. i got busy with some family stuff that took me away from home for almost a month. i had been trapping yellowjackets right and left before i was away. i knew they were really bad this year. i had already lost on small hive to them.

so....just checked the last hive today and it's empty of all but a little honey and yellowjackets. they should be gone by now. we have had multiple freezing nights. they are still out there......

then i checked the package prices for next year. 91 dollars!! that's nuts.

fair warning to all in my area. i'll be hard after the swarms next year!! :'(

Anybrew · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:20:57 am »

Thats terrible, you really lost the lot!! I would give you a couple no problem but there is a distance thing.

Good luck with the swarms

Cheers
Steve

Moots · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2013, 04:09:33 am »

Kathy,
Major bummer... :(
So sorry to hear that news! I like your plan and enthusiasm for rebounding via next years swarming season...happy hunting, we'll be rooting for you! :)

Hopefully all went well with your family issues...
Did you have as much time as expected to catch up on reading / movie / TV series watching?

If so, how about an update and your opinion on whatever you ended up filling the time with...

GSF · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2013, 05:59:47 am »

Kathy, Sorry to hear about that. There must be a micro environment around there somewhere to keep them that active. Wish I had some extra bees to share but still setting at one hive.

Bee-Mover · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:59:12 am »

Ouch! I'm sorry to hear this.

I lost both of the hives I had a couple of years ago under similar circumstances. I paid more than I wanted to getting started again, but I'm glad I did.

Get back up, brush yourself off and start again!

Kathyp · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2013, 12:26:18 pm »

Moots, i didn't get much reading or movie watching done. spent a lot of time preventing escape and disaster. :-) did get a chance to blow through a couple of games. i find it therapeutic to slaughter things in video game :evil:

as for the rest of it, my other mistake this year was that i didn't do any swarm chasing so i didn't have the excess i usually have. things just got away from me.

next year will be better.

rwlaw · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2013, 02:32:05 pm »

Death to all wasps & hornets X:X! Major bummer Kathy, leave the last box where it sets, then on a nice cold nite go out & if there's some of the vermin left trying to overwinter in the box, give em the brush off in the snowbank. That'll put a major dent in the crop for next year :-D.
I try to get my traps out early, if I can get a couple queens, that's a few less colonies in the summer.

Kathyp · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2013, 04:41:58 pm »

i did have traps out early and did catch a bunch of queens. i knew we were in for it early on. two mild winters were no help. lots of land. lot's of places for them to nest. some years it's a losing battle.

i am surprised that after a few nights in the 20's they are still out there. the next cold snap should do it.

danno · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:11:46 pm »

Quote from: rwlaw on November 30, 2013, 02:32:05 pm

Death to all wasps & hornets X:X! Major bummer Kathy, leave the last box where it sets, then on a nice cold nite go out & if there's some of the vermin left trying to overwinter in the box, give em the brush off in the snowbank. That'll put a major dent in the crop for next year :-D.
I try to get my traps out early, if I can get a couple queens, that's a few less colonies in the summer.

Living in central Michigan and using the clapping hand emotion icon could get you accused of being someone you might not be.

bud1 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:43:52 pm »

Kathy as you know if you can figure the transport the gang will put you back in business, I garon t it

Kathyp · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:50:58 pm »

bud, i know they would. i think the logistics would be an issue.

there are plenty of swarms around here. i just got busy and because i had some good hives going, i didn't worry about it. next year is another year and i'll get to start fresh will some cleaned up and organized hives! ;)

maybe i'll get motivated at your place next year?

Moots · « **Reply #11 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:55:47 pm »

Quote from: bud1 on November 30, 2013, 07:43:52 pm

Kathy as you know if you can figure the transport the gang will put you back in business, I garon t it

Bud,
No doubt....I had thought of offering but pretty much figured there was no safe/economical way of transporting a hive a couple thousand miles. :(

JPinMO · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2013, 09:54:29 pm »

Ohhhhh, Kathy, I am so sorry. What a bummer.

BlueBee · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2013, 05:03:47 am »

RIP social bees :(

Wishing KathyP some good Karma for 2104 X:X

Joe D · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2013, 10:01:37 am »

Sorry for your lost Kathy. Wish there was a way to help. Hope to see you at Buds. May you catch lots of swarms this spring.

Joe

iddee · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2013, 10:46:35 am »

There are 6840 members of this forum. If we each sent her a small jar of honey, it should be enough to last her until she gets another harvest. :-*

Kathyp · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2013, 11:25:34 am »

thanks Iddee. as it turns out, i got some early honey from those hives and have supplied my mother and granddaughter. as long as those two are happy, i'm good. i did keep a little for me :-D

now next year....that could be a problem!!

danno · « **Reply #17 on:** December 01, 2013, 02:23:30 pm »

How many did you loose Kathy?

ziffabeek · « **Reply #18 on:** December 01, 2013, 03:26:10 pm »

Kathy,

I'm so sorry to hear this. Sorry for you, and scared for me!! We too have a yellow jacket problem. Lost one hive that was struggling, and now they are hunting the other hives. I've got traps out, and mikel wants to spray, but i'm wondering how do you spray and not get the bees! We've had a couple of freezing nights, which I also thought would get them, but they are still here. I reaally hate yellow jackets!!!!!

Any suggestions to help save the remaining hives? I've reduced all entrances. I have screened bottom boards, do you think I should close them up with mite boards? I'm worried about my two baby hives. They went in to winter pretty strong, but are still both on the small side.

ugh, it's going to be a long worrisome winter. :(. I know you will come back all right, but if there is anything I can do to help, lemme know! I can send honey as iddee recommends.

Wishing you luck in the spring! I know you will bounce back with no problem.

much love,

ziffa/liz

L Daxon · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2013, 04:06:11 pm »

Kathy,

Sorry for your loss. I don't know what I would do if I lost ALL my hives at once. At least you don't have to spend any time the rest of the winter fretting if your girls will make it or not.

When you lose a hive in early winter like this, do you break it down immediately and store everything, or just close up the entrance and let it sit until spring?