Coloss - 17/18 winter loss report

[B+.]

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2019.1615661?scroll=top&needAccess=true

 

[Eyeman]

Thanks

 

[Murox]

Interesting range of results. Those with under 50 colonies experiencing greater losses and non migratory keepers also experiencing greater losses.
And "Evaluation of six different forage sources as potential risk factors for colony loss indicated that intensive foraging on any of five of these plant sources (Orchards, Oilseed ****, Maize, Heather and Autumn Forage Crops) was associated with significantly higher winter losses. This finding requires further study and explanation." Food for thought there.

 

[Welshboyarchrr]

Interesting range of results. Those with under 50 colonies experiencing greater losses and non migratory keepers also experiencing greater losses.
And "Evaluation of six different forage sources as potential risk factors for colony loss indicated that intensive foraging on any of five of these plant sources (Orchards, Oilseed ****, Maize, Heather and Autumn Forage Crops) was associated with significantly higher winter losses. This finding requires further study and explanation." Food for thought there.

Especially as you would expect the migratory bees to be associated with at least 3 of the "high risk" forages.

 

[Lancs Lad]

Very interesting results, I find over time that a big percentage of average beekeepers tend not to treat for varroa, whereas be farmers don't miss a treatment. I'm at the stage of being fed up of helping others sort their problems out because they can't be bothered. The big problem is it has become the in thing to keep bees and not realising you have to learn about them.

 

[thedozzer]

One thing that jumps out reading the data is that the UK/western Europe posted one of its highest losses, with one of the coldest/wettest February/March periods on record, is that hardly surprising as the cold/wet will have killed many colonies?

Would imagine that if you overlaid the temperature record with the losses they may be some correlational?

Feb 2018
March 2018

metoffice 2018 march

 

[For want of a better word]

Very interesting results, I find over time that a big percentage of average beekeepers tend not to treat for varroa, whereas be farmers don't miss a treatment. I'm at the stage of being fed up of helping others sort their problems out because they can't be bothered. The big problem is it has become the in thing to keep bees and not realising you have to learn about them.

Bad teachers.... three seasons without managing to loose any colonies and then theyknow it all and are more than happy to instruct all the new beekeepers.... I am fed up with it too.
To quote " I do not need to treat for varroa as my teacher a Master beekeeper looked at them for me and said they did not have varroa"

 

[B+.]

I find over time that a big percentage of average beekeepers tend not to treat for varroa, whereas be farmers don't miss a treatment.

Does that make me an "average beekeeper"? I don't treat for varroa

 

[B+.]

Bad teachers.... three seasons without managing to loose any colonies and then theyknow it all and are more than happy to instruct all the new beekeepers.... I am fed up with it too.

I've gone > 20 seasons without treating.
Please..think what you are saying. It is blatantly untrue

 

[Finman]

Does that make me an "average beekeeper"? I don't treat for varroa

You are in your series. Very typical Queen breeder.

 

[Finman]

I've gone > 20 seasons without treating.
Please..think what you are saying. It is blatantly untrue

You are really treated with your own way. And really expencive way, if you think about economy.

And this is true.

 

[B+.]

You are in your series. Very typical Queen breeder.

I'm sorry Finman. I don't understand what you're trying to say

 

[Finman]

I'm sorry Finman. I don't understand what you're trying to say

I am sorry too. Jesus said 2000 years ago that only sick need healing.

 

[B+.]

I am sorry too. Jesus said 2000 years ago that only sick need healing.

As clear as mud...I've still no idea what you're talking about

 

[Millet]

Very interesting results, I find over time that a big percentage of average beekeepers tend not to treat for varroa, whereas be farmers don't miss a treatment. I'm at the stage of being fed up of helping others sort their problems out because they can't be bothered. The big problem is it has become the in thing to keep bees and not realising you have to learn about them.

I 100% Agree with that..
I have been helping someone for two years now and they will not listen..
He had a old 80yr old helping him when i first had to sort his mess out..
I got him going with two good colonies last year and now he has let this 80yr old beekeeper back into his hives and now the chit has hit the fan..he can't find the Queen i marked last year so he has put a Queen excluder above the brood box and every one of the three supers..so it has three Queen excluders on one hive..he has asked me to help again but i have now washed my hands of any help..
If the fellow who owns the hives is not prepared to learn the basics himself he does not deserve to have any success.

 

[B+.]

he has asked me to help again but i have now washed my hands of any help..
If the fellow who owns the hives is not prepared to learn the basics himself he does not deserve to have any success.

That's a pity. We've all been there.
The guy obviously needs help and did, what seems to me, a rational thing to identify which box the queen was in. It would be the only box with eggs in after 3 days, or if he couldn't see eggs. the only box with sealed brood in a couple of weeks later. Unfortunately, there would probably also be emergency cells in if the queen was separated from the brood.
In all probability, she would be in the highest box she had access to (unless she was small enough to fit through the excluder).

 

[Show me the honey]

I 100% Agree with that..
I have been helping someone for two years now and they will not listen..
He had a old 80yr old helping him when i first had to sort his mess out..
I got him going with two good colonies last year and now he has let this 80yr old beekeeper back into his hives and now the chit has hit the fan..he can't find the Queen i marked last year so he has put a Queen excluder above the brood box and every one of the three supers..so it has three Queen excluders on one hive..he has asked me to help again but i have now washed my hands of any help..
If the fellow who owns the hives is not prepared to learn the basics himself he does not deserve to have any success.

It’s hard by may be time to have a chat and cut him loose for a season. I’ve been helping my brother in law and I’m getting to the point where I feel he’s not really learning but just watching! He depends on me instead of actively learning for himself doesn’t seem to matter how many times I show him it doesn’t sink in

 

[B+.]

It’s hard by may be time to have a chat and cut him loose for a season. I’ve been helping my brother in law and I’m getting to the point where I feel he’s not really learning but just watching! He depends on me instead of actively learning for himself doesn’t seem to matter how many times I show him it doesn’t sink in

Start asking: "What do you think?" and ask him to show you how to do something, even if you know how to do it.
"I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand."

 

[madasafish]

I only help people when asked. Let them make their own mistakes. I give advice but some want to do their own thing...

After losing all their bees through swarming/not feeding/not treating/etc - delete where applicable - the better realise their mistake and try to learn.

But a hobby which requires regular time and effort and acquiring some knowledge to apply is unsuited to roughly half of new beekeepers who appear to give up..

 

[For want of a better word]

B+.


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Originally Posted by Cheers View Post
Bad teachers.... three seasons without managing to loose any colonies and then theyknow it all and are more than happy to instruct all the new beekeepers.... I am fed up with it too.
I've gone > 20 seasons without treating.
Please..think what you are saying. It is blatantly untrue
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Originally Posted by B+. View Post
I'm sorry Finman. I don't understand what you're trying to say
I am sorry too. Jesus said 2000 years ago that only sick need healing.


I think you and Finnie the snow farie have been on the wakkie baccie or something...
not making any real sense at all!

Chons da