I reckon I've lost about 20% this year.
Some I reckon were avoidable, I lost some nucs because their entrances got blocked and I Believe that's why they died. Extremely annoyed about these. I think this year I'll be adding 2nd entrances in my nucs further up the box
Nothing starved, excellent but some did need some fondant feeding (nucs only though)
A couple appears to have developed a drone laying queen
Of what did survive, there is a mix of strong to weak. One thing I didn't do as much as normal last year was feed pollen sub and I believe this has affected spring strength... Maybe . I will up my pollen sub feeding this autumn. I was being stingy last autumn, false economy I believe.
Some just appeared to have withered to nothing.
Some apiaries did better than others. 1 apiary had lots of weak nucs whilst other apiaries , survival was much higher but also boxes stronger. Is this a micro climate issue or a varroa/disease issue.
Some colonies are ridiculously strong, bees covering every frame in double brood boxes but some weak on a frame of two of bees ( some equalisation will be happening)
This is my quick autopsy report I suppose
Some I reckon were avoidable, I lost some nucs because their entrances got blocked and I Believe that's why they died. Extremely annoyed about these. I think this year I'll be adding 2nd entrances in my nucs further up the box
Nothing starved, excellent but some did need some fondant feeding (nucs only though)
A couple appears to have developed a drone laying queen
Of what did survive, there is a mix of strong to weak. One thing I didn't do as much as normal last year was feed pollen sub and I believe this has affected spring strength... Maybe . I will up my pollen sub feeding this autumn. I was being stingy last autumn, false economy I believe.
Some just appeared to have withered to nothing.
Some apiaries did better than others. 1 apiary had lots of weak nucs whilst other apiaries , survival was much higher but also boxes stronger. Is this a micro climate issue or a varroa/disease issue.
Some colonies are ridiculously strong, bees covering every frame in double brood boxes but some weak on a frame of two of bees ( some equalisation will be happening)
This is my quick autopsy report I suppose
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted - Ralph Waldo Emerson