Lost my first ever colony today.

[Curly green finger's]

One of our 2020 home reared colonys

 

[jeff33]

Gutted for you, let's hope all the others do well.

 

[Boston Bees]

It happens. Shame. Any postmortem ideas?

 

[Murox]

Shame, but it happens. Any ideas what went on?

 

[Erichalfbee]

What’s your diagnosis Mark?

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Nature - red in tooth and claw! ☠

 

[Curly green finger's]

Starvation.
Big colony I only gave them fondant 7 days ago obviously not enough.
We've watched them flying since then to.
Gutted!

 

[madasafish]

Only perfect beekeepers lose no hives in winter.
Hard luck.. but that's beekeeping.

 

[Apple]

Only perfect beekeepers lose no hives in winter.
Hard luck.. but that's beekeeping.

Seems to be an average loss overwinter of 10%.....
Natural selection......
But you did hang on to some nucs to overwinter... didn't you?

Yeghes da

 

[The Poot]

Bad scene Curly, sorry to see it.
Don‘t beat yourself up mate and top marks for sharing your loss.

 

[beeno]

Sorry to see that Curley. I have a light one with fondant that I will be looking at. Maybe I have to do a Finman and put some syrup in some drawn comb!

 

[GuyNir]

I wouldn’t make too big of a deal. It happens. That’s beekeeping.

 

[Curly green finger's]

[/QUOTE[/QUOTE]

Sorry to see that Curley. I have a light one with fondant that I will be looking at. Maybe I have to do a Finman and put some syrup in some drawn comb!

Here's some more photos, classic photos of starvation.

I couldn't see any varroa issues

 

[Antipodes]

I was told once that bees die in 72 hours without food....

 

[beeno]

[/QUOTE

View attachment 24442View attachment 24443
Here's some more photos, classic photos of starvation.

I couldn't see any varroa issues
[/QUOTE]
No guanine deposits (constituent of varroa poo), white speaks on the top side of the cell walls? Were they totally out of carbs or was it isolation starvation? They have some pollen on that frame. It looks like the dead bees have been on the floor for some time. How long was your cold snap? I have been taught that you cannot judge the size of the colony at the hive entrance. Looks like it was a good sized colony.

 

[beeno]

I was told once that bees die in 72 hours without food....

I better check the fondant through the crown board tmorrow. Inspect Sat or Sunday if warm enough. They keep saying 17°C - we will see.

 

[drdrday]

Really sorry to hear that Curly. You've got me champing at the bit even more for the forecast 15C and sunshine down here on Saturday. I really want to crack them open and have a good check of stores.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

15C and sunshine down here on Saturday. I really want to crack them open

A surefire way of buggering up the colony - it's still the middle of winter, leave them alone for another month for goodness sake.

 

[beeno]

A surefire way of buggering up the colony - it's still the middle of winter, leave them alone for another month for goodness sake.

Well, it may be too late then.

 

[drdrday]

A surefire way of buggering up the colony - it's still the middle of winter, leave them alone for another month for goodness sake.

I'm not talking about a full on inspection, but just lifting the crown board and laying on some fondant if necessary. Surely that's a 'surefire' way of avoiding starvation on a hive that I think are getting a little too light, when leaving them for a month would be way too late.