#colonyloss

[homesteadhens]

I was able to do a proper check on the hives last week and found that I only have one surviving colony. 😭 The colony I thought would make it (2nd year, OH/Saskatraz genetics) failed somewhere in the last 2-3 weeks. The merged colony that I was super worried about is already raising brood and looking good! I am grateful one colony made it but still mourning a little. Moving forward, I think I'm going to stop naming queens since my winter losses means a rapid turnover and I get too attached! I'm going to name the hives instead, probably based on plants/flowers around the homestead. 🌱 #homesteadhensandhoneypod #beekeeping #winter2021 #colonyloss #honeybees https://www.instagram.com/p/CbaV_oruEuS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[homesteadhens]

My top bar hive colony didn't make it. I suspected they wouldn't as they went into winter very small despite my best efforts. I brought these 2 frames of capped and uncapped honey in to store. I left the other frames in the hive, in the hope it might attract a swarm in Spring. I have ordered packages and nucs for the new year so I'll have bees in there again. 🐝 My two Langstroth hives are still alive. May that continue! 🤞 #topbarhives #colonyloss #beekeeping #honeybees #beeswax https://www.instagram.com/p/CX4WZfUu0Bh/?utm_medium=tumblr

[homesteadhens]

RIP queen Macha. 😭 This colony was small but alive last Tuesday and then dead by Friday. Absolutely gutted since I fucked up by leaving an open screen bottom board on this hive, and now I wonder whether they would have made it if I'd caught that mistake sooner. Macha was one of the 2 queens I got that started my journey so it's very hard to accept her passing. I have just one surviving colony now (Saskatraz daughter). More info on my next episode. THIS WINTER SUCKS. 😤 #colonyloss #beekeeping #beekeepingpodcast #homesteadhensandhoneypod (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMdI5CPnz_i/?igshid=jd819j3tebxs

[homesteadhens]

Lost what I thought was my strongest hive: Cerridwen, my Ohio queen. 😭 I'll go over what I discovered in my next episode of the podcast but I'm pretty sure mites are the primary cause. I just saw something about testing dead colonies for mites so took this opportunity to give that a go. 7 mites per 300 bees. For winter? That sucks. They died sometime in the last 2 weeks. I found the queen and brought her in. Sorry, old gal. You did your best. ❤️ 2 colonies left now (Southern queen and Sask-daughter). Ordered a package and a nuc for the Spring. Beekeeping can be a rough road! #homesteadhensandhoneypod #beekeeping #colonyloss #wintersucks #honeybees (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL0Oz6Gnfe4/?igshid=9xf9lwbu7jh8

[homesteadhens]

New episode of the podcast is up! I recorded on Valentine's day (hence the card!) so belated lovey wishes to you all. ❤️ This episode digs into chapter five of #honeybeedemocracy by #thomasseeley and we learn all about how agreement is reached by the swarm on the best nest site. I also talk about my sick hen, Agnes, and the 3 colonies I lost. Listen wherever you get your podcasts! And stay safe and warm out there. 🥶 #homesteadhensandhoneypod #beekeepingpodcast #colonyloss #chickenhospital #honeybees (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLcNOO1HKKN/?igshid=1dt0k0y45euni

[homesteadhens]

It's been cold as hell here in NE Ohio, and we have even colder temps on the way so I ran out yesterday afternoon (30F, sunny, no wind) to put more sugar out for the bees. I found my Saskatraz mother hive and both nucleus colonies dead. All had some honey left but still starved due to inadequate population. I'll be talking more about the reasons they died (spoiler: varroa!) on my next podcast episode. This leaves me with 3 colonies, one of which is the Saskatraz daughter hive. I gotta admit, although it was sad to find I'd lost some colonies, the relief and joy I felt at finding my others alive really overshadowed the grief. There may have been happy tears. I hope your hives are doing okay! 🐝❤️ #honeybees #beekeeping #colonyloss #wintersucks (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPHlfHnaxy/?igshid=1wlyer78ekl8y