First deadout

[reedyfork]

So I discovered my very first deadout on Tues (one of my three hives here in urban Greensboro). In hindsight, this colony had been on the decline for a while now - low activity, SHB, wax moths, mites, etc. I just denied it and thought they'd "come back around". They had TONS of food, but the dead cluster was really tiny - like a baseball.

I don't see any evidence of disease, so I broke it apart and am letting my other two colonies rob and clean it out this week before I put everything in the freezer.

I'm excited to get my swarm traps out and see if I can repopulate with free bees this spring!

[quentin]

I have had 4 of 6 this winter. Plenty of stores, suspect Queenless or mites. Few SHB. Have one strong , one weak remaining. Looks like strong is about to swarm, the next few days when it warms a bit.

[Jacobs]

Quentin, are you seeing drones or just large orientation/cleansing flights?

[quentin]

Hard for me to tell. Lots of activity outside the entrance, "cloud" of bees about 3' by 3' by 6' at various times. Haven't checked today yet. I'll see if I can tell more today.

[quentin]

Maybe just orientation/cleansing, did not see any drones this afternoon. The "cloud" outside the hive was much smaller today than before, may be cooler temps. Maybe longer than I think till swarm. I have had good luck catching swarms rather than splitting. Afraid to split this one as it is the only remaining strong hive I have.