Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I am a new beekeeper. Attended class, got my pkg late March, fed em fed em fed. Things looked good but my hands off approach was doomed. One warm day mid October there was nothing. No flight. No buzz in the box. Opened and on the bottom board was a big fat layer of dead bees. Like they just decided as a group to die. Called state apiarist as advised. Starvation. I had no idea. He said the extreme summer was rough on hives everywhere. Very sad about it but determined to try again in the spring. Advice? Are NC bees better than GA? Are nucs hardier than pkg? I'm in High Point. Anybody else suffer losses?

Teresa

The hands off approach hasn't worked since the mites arrived in the 1980's. Get your new bees from someone who will follow up with advice and mentorship if needed. Meaning a local person, business, or group. Then go into them every 2 weeks or more if signs of trouble appear. Check out the first 3 forums on the front page of this site and use them often. Come to club meetings.You are within driving distance of the clubs in Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, and Forsyth counties. Maybe even Davy and Alamance clubs. They will all welcome you. Check out the "mentor" page on this site. Contact a couple of the volunteers and set them up to work with you come spring.The password for that page can be gotten from any of the club members just for asking.

Another suggestion is that you take steps to make sure you do not lose your drawn comb to wax moth damage--now or in the spring before you get bees. Whether you go with a new package or a nuc, the drawn comb is a great resource and will give your bees a head start.

Thanks for replies. I put the drawn out frames in the freezer. In the spring I may go with two hives. The state man saw no disease or pests otherwise. I just didn't know to feed em and didn't know what to look for. I'll ask for help next time. As I was told in class, experience is the best teacher. The cruelest too.