Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: MustbeeNuts on November 25, 2009, 08:48:13 am
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Went out to check my hives yesterday, found 4 hives totally empty. odd thing it is, there was bees flying last week when it was so nice and warm up here, now these hives are empty, two are fine, they had been sugared and ready for winter. There were a few bees in there maybe 60 or so a few clung to the frames, but other wise gone, the ones left were dead, and the floor of the hive barely had bees on it. I swear looks like they obscondated?? I need to check my out yard now, lol out of fear. Does this sound like CCD or just bad luck!
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Any chance they were robbed out? That's what seems to have happened to mine.
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Sorry to hear that Al!!
I for sure don't have any advice, but I would like to know if they were the combines, and if they were the Italians or NWC hives.
Jay
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Italians, and no the combines are fine, these were way strong to be robbed, IDK?? haven't checked the Carnies yet. this wekkend
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I had the same thing happen to one of my hives. Super strong and a few weeks later totally gone! I was concerned it was too strong and eating itself out of house and home and was about to set up for some candy boards and then they were gone (late October). The other hive is just fine! Asked a bunch of fellow beeks and no one really seemed to think it was CCD. I'm hoping the other one makes it to sping. I'm in sounth central Wisconsin and a second year beek.
Greg
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What did they weigh when you checked them last? How long ago was that?
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This is exactly what happened to me this year. In retrospect, my issue was one of underfeeding. We had no nectar in August and September was not much better. I simply assumed the hive was strong because of the activity, but I never checked to see the status of their stores. Another lesson learned.
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Maybe those Georgia bees decided to migrate back home for the winter. :-D
But seriously, if you need a hand lifting hives to check their weight, let me know. I'd be glad to help.
Jay
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Maybe those Georgia bees decided to migrate back home for the winter. :-D
But seriously, if you need a hand lifting hives to check their weight, let me know. I'd be glad to help.
Jay
Well I wish I could go south. Bet its easier to raise bees there also. LOL
Thanks for the offer, probly too late now but I will take you up on it next fall.
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Checked mine today, same exact thing. Italians, sugared them up a month ago, today there was about 2# of sugar, some honey and nectar in the bottom medium. Maybe 30 bees left, clinging to the middle, a few face down in the comb. I wonder if I just didn't feed them enough, early enough in the fall.
Which begs a question:
During the bloom, various other bees (wild, many fuzzy black and yellow, etc) but very few of mine were working the flowers (rhodies, fruit trees, yard plants, etc). Mine were, however, building comb and bringing in pollen (and I presume nectar) at the time. Were they too picky? Too much competition?
I'll give it another go in the spring, and just plan on feeding as much as they'll take starting in September. I'm letting the rain wash off the sugar and broken honeycomb, then freeze the frames for a head start come April.
-T