Hi,
I'm new to beekeeping and recently lost a hive that swarmed early in spring. The hive died out completely and I'm just wondering if there was anything I could have done to save it.
The first inspection after winter was mid Sept and I'm guessing because we had a mild winter and very early spring that they had built up quicker than I expected.
On first inspection there was about 20 queen cells and what seemed to be a reduced number of bees so I'm guessing that they had already swarmed. Then over the next two months the bee numbers just dwindled away to nothing.
Is there anything that I could have done on that first inspection (apart from inspecting earlier and giving them more space!) that may have saved the hive?
I'm guessing that they may have swarmed more than once. I also found a queen on the ground at the front of the hive about a month after the first inspection. I put her back in the entrance but things just kept going down hill.
Any tips advice appreciated.
Thanks
Willy