New Winter Loss Count...

[DonMcJr]

Well its 55 here now so I just got done checking my 4 hives. 2 dead outs 2 alive.

One dead out had a ton of bees and no honey left and they other I didn't think was strong enough ggoing into winter.

so 50%... which means Perry is the man!

[Perry]

And my numbers could change quite a bit by the end of April. This is the tough time, getting them this far and then having it go sideways.

[riverbee]

me too don, just lost two myself, they managed all the way to march, just drives me. it's still cold here and snow on the ground. a very LLLLLOOOOOONNNNGGGG winter....

[barry42001]

Global warming, just sayin

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[DonMcJr]

Question... the hive with a ton of dead bees were dead in a cluster and all over the bottom board and smelled pretty bad. I cleaned out the whole hive of dead bees and blocked the entrances and left the screened BB open. In 2 weeks can will the smell be gone and can I just put a package in that hive or should I put all new frames in it?

[riverbee]

yes don, you will be good to go, especially if you  left the sbb on.  you don't need new frames....

[LazyBkpr]

   I try to knock as many bees out of the frames as I can. Less work for the new inhabitants. Scrape the bottom board, clean it up well, scrape the rests, bur comb etc..  after that, the new bees will make everything else ship shape.

[riverbee]

oops yep what lazy said, good point, do the same, and also if there is any mold on the frames, scrape it off the top of the frames, or wipe them down, including the frame face with a damp cloth, the bees will clean and polish the rest.....