Lots of dead bees

[Tommy]

Well I took a quick peek at the bottom board of my hive today and there sure were a lot of dead bees! So many in fact they were plugging up the exit. So I cleaned it out a bit with a small stick and was quickly greeted by 🐝. I had a quick peek in the top and there were a small number of dead bees up top,  but nothing  compared to the bottom board. From the top it still looked like there were lots of live bees in between the frames. I've read that is normal for winter losses. What experiences have any of you had? Thanks.

[tedh]

I think you're good.  That's just my guess without being able to see what you see.  Bees die everyday, if they are locked up by cold weather they will accumulate on the bottom board until it's warm enough to fly then the girls will start dragging out their dead.  I was SHOCKED the first winter by the piles of dead, figured the colony was a gonner, May rolled around and BOOM! they really took off.  That's my thoughts, we'll see what others have to say.  Ted

[becsbeehive]

Awesome! Action is the best way to learn!

[Riverrat]

Typical to lose a lot of bees over the winter.  Most of what are dying off are old worker field bees that had reached the end of there life cycle.  This is why you want to go into winter with young bees.

[Jen]

My hives have lots of dead bees on the bottom boards as well. I just make sure that the entrances aren't getting clogged up. Here in upper northern California, my bees will be ramping up in about 6 weeks, and there will already be capped brood.

[Tommy]

Thanks for the feedback. When you first see all the dead bees it's a little overwhelming, but once it sinks in that it's part of the normal bee cycle it's a little easier psyche.  Thanks again! 🙂