New Member from NY says hello

[Eve Sylvia]

I am looking out my window at my hive, lots of activity, it looks like new hatch is coming out today. I have had one hive for about 10 years, with varied success. The first hive I made in an egg shape, from cow dung, clay and oat straw. The bees loved it, thrived in it, but I couldn't get very far into it, the frames never came in and out well enough. (I'll dig up a photo and post it soon) When that finally fell apart I replaced it with a Langstrop, and the bees have been less healthy since then, so perhaps this is a clue to bee health? This year I fed and treated diligently, isulated the hive during the coldest stretch of winter, and actually put a low energy lightbulb beneath the hive for a touch of warmth. So far, so good. This is the first winter I have had a hive survive in about 3 years, so I am happy, but still apprehensive that they will all vanish without a clue one day.
I'm wondering about other backyard, non-migrant small keepers survival rates. The bulk of the collapse seems to be migrant bees, I think, is that not so?

[Understudy]

Welcome to the forums. I would love to see the cow dung hive pictures. CCD affects mainly migratory beekeepers. 3 years with a hive is a good record. I think you will find the forms fun and useful. In the meantime you can teach us about cow dung hives, I think that is just to neat.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[bluegrass]

I will stick to the wood hives :shock: But I to would like to see the pictures....I am still playing with the idea of a concrete hive.
I think CCD mostly effects migrators, because migrators have most of the bees. Also most backyard hobbiests don't report CCD when it strikes them, because we don't usually know that it did. I also think that we have an issue with labeling every dead hive CCD because it is an easy explaination for the unknowns!
welcome to the forum

[Mklangelo]

Best of luck to you Eve and welcome aboard!