Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: funbee1 on January 24, 2013, 07:03:40 pm

Title: Winter losses
Post by: funbee1 on January 24, 2013, 07:03:40 pm
I've already been hearing about lots of dead hives in Michigan. Way over 50% from experienced beeks all with 30-400 hives. They are saying the queens shut down too early because of the drought and went into winter with bees that were too old, not enough young bees.

What has everybody else experienced so far?

Agree or disagree with explanation?


Scott
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: hardwood on January 24, 2013, 07:15:58 pm
I;ve also heard of some severe losses. Enough so that almond pollination contracts might go as high as $180-$190 per hive. I heard that one very large outfit lost 52,000 of 74,000 hives. Of course this just what I've been told so take it as you will.

Scott
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Vance G on January 24, 2013, 08:19:49 pm
I am close to thirty colonies and much winter is left here but my losses have been light so far.   We are not having a sever winter and bees have been able to fly several times since freezeup.   I entered fall with about half my colonies short of stores and they are doing nicely on Mountain camp feeding.   I doubt they have much stored pollen because they were raising brood very late.  I have nearly a month before I dare start feeding suppliment because the first generation emerging should have fresh spring pollen available to them. 
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: AllenF on January 24, 2013, 08:29:15 pm
Due to my work schedule this fall and not keeping up with the bees I am down from 11 to 4 hives still alive this winter.  I blame me for not checking on them.     
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Moots on January 24, 2013, 10:39:47 pm
As a Newbie just starting out, a week and a half into my beekeeping adventure with 2 Nucs, reports like this scare the hell out of me!  :(

Actually, long before I got bees, early on into my researching of the hobby, I was shocked to learn about exactly how many things can actually go wrong. 
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 24, 2013, 11:49:47 pm
Went into winter with 14 hives, one of which is an OB hive, now have 15 hives. Caught a swarm last week. :lo :shock:this past week it went into then 70'a and I went through 11 of them that are here at my house, they all look strong and growing. The swarm did not have a queen so I gave them a frame of eggs. Used a hive tool to cut the cells so that can build the q cells. Might have a new q that was out on her mating flights. All of my hives are full of drones (except the OB hive, it is still recovering from something that killed hundreds of them last fall). The OB went from almost no bees or brood visible on the exposed sides of the bottom frames to completely covering them and looking to restart working on the super frames. Saw the q laying eggs out side the football, that means she is still growing the brood area.
Jim
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: divemaster1963 on January 25, 2013, 12:47:21 am
I went into this winter with 10 strong in my yard and 25 in my buddies yard. I have lost my 4 year old hive and have one weak hive. the rest of mine are doing good. my buddie lost 8 hives out of 25 but they all are now bring in dandiloin pollen like mad.

John
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: T Beek on January 25, 2013, 09:52:48 am
January is too early to count any colony out IMO.  I've had 'dead' colonies sudden;y 'wake up' (zombees) in May or June.

Went into winter w/ 8, I'm concerned about 2 so far (and 2 1/2 to 3 months to go before the willows bloom). 

Start feeding NOW if you're worried about stores, further South you could even be supplying some pollen right now I believe. 

If you think a hive is too light and its too cold to feed syrup give them some dry sugar or "HONEYBALLS" a mix of honey (from a trusted source) and sugar (thanks BlueBee). 

It can/will save their lives.

Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: mulesii on January 25, 2013, 02:07:28 pm
So far this I have lost three of my four hives.  I checked the last hive last week when it was warm for a day and I do not think it will survive the current cold spell here in the NE.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: bailey on January 25, 2013, 05:26:58 pm
We haven't really had enough winter to loose hives to winter conditions down here.
Bailey
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: goatmanbees on January 29, 2013, 02:15:20 am
I've lost 1 out of my 12.  The one was from a late cut out. Won't be doing that again!
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Parksguyy on January 29, 2013, 08:57:36 am
New beek here in Ontario ... 4 hives ... fed heavy in the fall ... went into winter with one weaker hive.  Though it was gone a few weeks back, not a sound from it where as the other three were quite noisy.  Have been doing the Mountain Camp feeding to that one, tomorrow our temp goes to 10 celius and will be placing some fondant cakes on all the hives.  We just went through one of the coldest weeks on record here, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.   
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: leandrogcard on January 31, 2013, 09:45:46 am
I'm wondering,

You guys are talking about problems during the winter, but how cold are weather really going, ad for how long? We have no real winter down here, and I'm just curious about the real conditions your bees have to withstand.

Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: T Beek on January 31, 2013, 10:35:06 am
Well, its not as cold, nor do we get the kind of snowfalls from just a decade ago. 

That said; We're supposed to get down to 20 below zero (F) tonight, but we used to have 20-30 below zero during the day (30-40 below @ night), sometimes lasting for 2-3 weeks or more, along w/ mountains of snow. 

Now we've learned (the hard way) to regularly cover our septic tank with hay/straw because we can no longer count on the protection once offered by ample amounts of snow before the BIG FREEZE.  The last time we had an extended cold snap in Northern Wisconsin was in the late 90's.  Since then our winters have become increasingly more mild, and our SPRINGS have become more unpredictable.  Life (including bees) suffers from these extremes no doubt about it.

Our Spring typically begins (dandelions start blooming) in early April here, but we can get a 'killing' frost well into JUNE.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: D Semple on January 31, 2013, 11:47:15 am
I'm down 5 of 41 hives so far.

Condensation issues are biting me in the butt, as our weekly temperature fluctuations have been a reqular roller coaster this winter. 70 degrees here in KC Monday and supposed to get down to 3 tonight and then back up to the 50's by Sunday.

Next winter I will be insulating lids and going to larger upper entrances. May just go to all upper entrances year round.


Don
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: T Beek on January 31, 2013, 01:30:07 pm
Although I haven't lost a colony yet this winter, I am having similar issues w/ condensation showing up as frost around the entrances some mornings on all of my top entrance hives.  Its also the 'first' time I've used a foam insulation shell around my hives.  In the past, apparently the wood alone allowed enough moisture to escape as I've never seen frost accumulation before this year.  Hoping its not a bad sign. 

I may be re-thinking insulating my hives after this season.  We'll see come Spring.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: leandrogcard on January 31, 2013, 02:39:29 pm

That said; We're supposed to get down to 20 below zero (F) tonight, but we used to have 20-30 below zero during the day (30-40 below @ night), sometimes lasting for 2-3 weeks or more, along w/ mountains of snow. 

Thanks for the info.

This is really way too cold, for way too long. For me it seems amazing even trying to keep bees in such conditions :shock: . Good luck with that.


Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Vance G on January 31, 2013, 03:24:29 pm
It is way too humid and hot for me to consider visiting let alone living in  your beautiful country Brazil!  The bees are made to cluster and eat and doze the winter away.  I do some of that myself.   And when summer comes and you are at your sweltering hottest, my bees have close to 18 hours of light to gather nectar, while you only have 12.  We all have different crosses to bear.   
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Moots on January 31, 2013, 04:13:27 pm
It is way too humid and hot for me to consider visiting let alone living in  your beautiful country Brazil!  The bees are made to cluster and eat and doze the winter away.  I do some of that myself.   And when summer comes and you are at your sweltering hottest, my bees have close to 18 hours of light to gather nectar, while you only have 12.  We all have different crosses to bear.   

Vance,
My wife and I did a Jackson Hole/Yellowstone trip this past June.  One of our days in Yellowstone we popped out the North Gate to grab lunch in Gardiner, MT.   I was BLOWN AWAY by how much I enjoyed that vacation and how beautiful that part of the country is.  I've visited my share of neat and impressive places and usually I'm satisfied to check the "been there/done that" box and get back home.  This was the only time I've ever thought that if I could financial pull it off, which I probably can't! :'(, I would be tempted to have a second home there....truly beautiful country!  Of course, I'm sure in the middle of winter, I may feel differently!  :-D 
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: leandrogcard on January 31, 2013, 04:13:51 pm
We all have different crosses to bear.   
Yeah, I guess so :cheer:.

BR.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: hardwood on January 31, 2013, 04:48:37 pm
leandrogcard, Keep in mind that the USA is a big place with different climates. Here in Florida our weather is much like yours.

Scott
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: leandrogcard on January 31, 2013, 07:21:39 pm
I understand that Scott.

In fact I was imagining the possibility of keeping some species of Brazilian stingless bees in the US, mainly for hobbyists, but this topic about winter conditions conviced me there are not much places in your country where such bees could survive. Florida is one of them, along with Lousiana, South Texas and maybe Mississipi, Alabama, and Georgia.


Regards
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: splitrock on January 31, 2013, 07:23:09 pm
"I would be tempted to have a second home there....truly beautiful country!  Of course, I'm sure in the middle of winter, I may feel differently!  grin"

From Louisiana to sub-zero North Country???? I guarantee you would be feeling differently come winter. Snow and cold can grow old real quick.  We had a high of -6 today and are looking at minus 12 tonight.

Losses in my yard are looking like they are going to be fairly heavy this winter. As always, time will tell.

Joel
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Vance G on January 31, 2013, 08:03:52 pm
Moots don't tell people!  It is too crowded here already.  Yellowstone is an interesting spectacle of sorts.  Glacier is so very much better and unworldly beautiful.  I started winter with some real cripples that I just put mountain camp on when I wrapped.  Only one dead so far and my production hives were all ticking along a couple weeks ago.  It is still two months til first reliable pollen.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: MTWIBadger on January 31, 2013, 11:31:53 pm
Moots
Glad to hear you enjoyed Yellowstone/Montana on your vacation.  Next time head over to western Montana where I live (no reason to visit Great Falls where Vance lives) and visit Flathead Lake and Glacier Nat'l Park.  Glacier Nat'l park is even more impressive than Yellowstone!  Here in SW MT, we have had only 2-3 nights below 0 so far this winter and it was 45 today.  Finding a paying job in MT can be difficult so work on that second home option!
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 31, 2013, 11:48:14 pm
Moots/Vance/Badger,
My wife and I will be going to Yellowstone the first week of July. We have reserved a house in the middle of the forest near Wilson. We had planned on going there last year but the company I work for was prepping for a strike and if it did happen all vacations would have been cancelled. I have been wanting to go there for a long time, it's on my bucket list.  :-D
Jim
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Finski on February 01, 2013, 04:16:31 am
New beek here in Ontario ... 4 hives ... fed heavy in the fall ... went into winter with one weaker hive.  Though it was gone a few weeks back, not a sound from it where as the other three were quite noisy.  Have been doing the Mountain Camp feeding to that one, tomorrow our temp goes to 10 celius and will be placing some fondant cakes on all the hives.  We just went through one of the coldest weeks on record here, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  


Bees should be in winter very calm and not noisy.
Now it is not time to feed hives in Ottawa.
You should look first, do they have food there, and if they have, let them be in peace.

To disturb bees during winter rest is not good at all.


Keep your fingers crossed but don't touch hives.

Forecast of Ottawa promises -6C - -15C next two week. You cannot do nothing to hives. We have here same temps.

.Do you have given Oxalic acid syrup to hives?

.
Hives cannot use fondant because they do not get water from outside.
.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Finski on February 01, 2013, 04:25:17 am
I'm down 5 of 41 hives so far.

Condensation issues are biting me in the butt,

Everybody speak about condensation but no one speak about varroa.

Condensation is nothing problem when  you know few principles. And further more, there are some concensation in hived and it does not harm bees.

Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Moots on February 01, 2013, 06:40:18 am
"I would be tempted to have a second home there....truly beautiful country!  Of course, I'm sure in the middle of winter, I may feel differently!  grin"

From Louisiana to sub-zero North Country???? I guarantee you would be feeling differently come winter. Snow and cold can grow old real quick.  We had a high of -6 today and are looking at minus 12 tonight.

Losses in my yard are looking like they are going to be fairly heavy this winter. As always, time will tell.

Joel

Splitrock,
LOL! Yeah I think you're right. those temps sound brutal. That's mainly why it would have to be a second home and not a relocation.  Thinking I'm made for wintering down South.  :)
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Moots on February 01, 2013, 06:52:07 am
Moots
Glad to hear you enjoyed Yellowstone/Montana on your vacation.  Next time head over to western Montana where I live (no reason to visit Great Falls where Vance lives) and visit Flathead Lake and Glacier Nat'l Park.  Glacier Nat'l park is even more impressive than Yellowstone!  Here in SW MT, we have had only 2-3 nights below 0 so far this winter and it was 45 today.  Finding a paying job in MT can be difficult so work on that second home option!

Badger,
A couple of weeks ago I bumped into a good friend who unfortunately, with both of our busy lives, I don't get to see that much.  I knew he had done both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, so I was telling him how much I had enjoyed my trip.  He could appreciate everything I was saying, but followed up everything I said with how unbelievably beautiful and impressive Glacier Nat'l Park is...Hadn't told the wife yet because she'll want to go tomorrow, but it's now on my short list.  :)
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: Moots on February 01, 2013, 07:30:29 am
Moots/Vance/Badger,
My wife and I will be going to Yellowstone the first week of July. We have reserved a house in the middle of the forest near Wilson. We had planned on going there last year but the company I work for was prepping for a strike and if it did happen all vacations would have been cancelled. I have been wanting to go there for a long time, it's on my bucket list.  :-D
Jim


Jim,
Not sure what your itinerary looks and it's tough because there's A LOT to see at Yellowstone...But if you can squeeze in a couple days for the Grand Tetons, I'd highly recommend it.

We did a Saturday to Saturday, flying in and out of Jackson Hole.
That gave us two full days of hiking in the Grand Tetons, Sunday and Monday.
Tuesday we drove to Yellowstone with plenty of sightseeing and a few stops along the way.
That gave us most of Tuesday and three FULL days in Yellowstone...Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  We hit it hard everyday, out the room before sun up, back in the room after dark, which is pretty late at that time of year.   We managed to do both the lower and upper loops of Yellowstone, but time was tight.

We headed back towards Jackson Hole Saturday Morning, caught a Horseback riding trip in the Grand Tetons, then straight to the airport to fly out. Whew....A very full week, but one I will never forget!

You and your wife are in for a treat!  Have fun and let us know how it went when you get back.

My apologies to everyone for drifting off topic. However, it does emphasize the wide variety of climates that our little flying friends can survive in, or unfortunately, in some cases...Not survive.  :(

Hoping for the best for everyone, and their bees coming out of winter.
Title: Re: Winter losses
Post by: BeeMaster2 on February 01, 2013, 12:43:53 pm
Moots,
Thanks for the update. I don't think we will be doing as much walking as you did, My wife has had Knee surgery twice now and cannot walk that far. We do want to see as much as possible. I get up early, but I doubt if she will.
Thanks,
Jim