Losses

[AlanH]

Well my association have done a quick visual inspection and we have lost 3 out of 4 of the hives at one apiary.
The one left is not in a good way either and is having to be fed.

 

[drstitson]

in what state did they enter winter?

 

[MuswellMetro]

Well my association have done a quick visual inspection and we have lost 3 out of 4 of the hives at one apiary.
The one left is not in a good way either and is having to be fed.

As i am only around the M25 from you at South Mimms that concerns me,

any initial views on why

viz:

types of bees
starved by not crossing frames
starved as too light going in
Varroa levels
Nosema etc


on my association apiary we have lost a few to woodepecker but so far only one to starvation and that was a small colony with wasp robing problems in september, so it was the most likely to fail

 

[MuswellMetro]

Well my association have done a quick visual inspection and we have lost 3 out of 4 of the hives at one apiary.
The one left is not in a good way either and is having to be fed.

As i am only around the M25 from you at South Mimms that concerns me,

any initial views on why

viz:

types of bees
starved by not crossing frames
starved as too light going in
Varroa levels
Nosema etc
How set up/insulation/omf


on my association apiary we have lost a few to woodepecker but so far only one to starvation and that was a small colony with wasp robing problems in september, so it was the most likely to fail

 

[AlanH]

All hive went into the winter treated for Varroa and Nosema.
They were all well feed or had good stores.

 

[Poly Hive]

yes but how strong were they?

PH

 

[AlanH]

The strong ones are the ones that have died, the weakest one is the one they are now trying to save. I,m told that the weak one has stores but the bees are not eating them.
This is now being fed with bakers fondant.

 

[Brosville]

With what were they treated for varroa and nosema?

 

[Bad Boy Bee]

Before we all enter the interrogation room, I know i would be interested in finding out some more details. Once a full investigation has taken place e.g. disease, poison, isolation starvation, predators etc.. I too have a couple of colonies I was 50/50 about amalgamating and am watching with everything crossed that they make it through.

 

[MuswellMetro]

Before we all enter the interrogation room, I know i would be interested in finding out some more details. Once a full investigation has taken place e.g. disease, poison, isolation starvation, predators etc.. I too have a couple of colonies I was 50/50 about amalgamating and am watching with everything crossed that they make it through.

it did get quite cold in west london, down to minus 14 oC so they would have been more stressed than a average winter when in London plus 2 as the minimum