So it is that time of year where I take a deep breath and lift the covers to see what i have managed to get through the winter.. This year we had 5 hives going into the winter. Purple died in the latter stages of the year so that doesn’t count. Coming out of the winter however it is interesting to see what we have left over. 3 out of 5 is not great but could be worse.
3 out of 5 is not great, but could have been worse. Bee colonies are reported to be 70% down this year as with last year so a 40% loss is not too bad.
So the Red and white hive, the Light Blue wooden hive and the Red poly all carried through. Green and Blue poly both died.
In the two that died, both had loads of food, so this was not the cause.
Blue hive had a lot of sugar water in the top which suggests that the ventilation wrong and that there was not enough air flow. Moist air wad therefore soaking into the sugar and the sugar was acting as a dehumidifier. Lots of bees in the bottom and ,many were trying to get through the base mesh. Perhaps dead bees piled up and blocked the entrance and the rest could no longer get in and out?
Green seemed to have no bees around it and they had all absconded.
Final situation:
Red Poly was left with the flow super on and no feeder. This colony has loads of space and should now grow to fill the hive. Will need to put a QE on in May ensuring the queen is blow the QE.
Red and White Poly is the same as Red Poly but I have put the green super on as it was there.
Gren Poly and Blue Poly are both set up as swarm traps. I have recharged the batteries in the scales and the hive hearts.
Light Blue Wood is as it was with bees using it. I will at some point replace the hive with the blue poly hive keeping the position and the bees. This will put that colony into a poly hive with fresh scales and hive heart, and give me an opportunity to clean out the light blue hive which is in need of some wood repairs.
Purple and dark blue wooden hives are empty.
Hopefully this year i will be able to get a few swarms and fill all the empty hives!!