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Offline rodmaker

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Winter losses
« on: January 17, 2014, 10:04:31 am »
      Well in the last two days i have gone through all ten of my hives . Four are very strong sixteen frames of bees  and four are moderate by that i mean eight frames of bees and two have what appear to laying workers. So twenty percent loss. How are everyone else's bees making it through?
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Offline DLMKA

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2014, 10:11:35 am »
I've lost 1 of 21 confirmed and possibly a tree trunk that I hauled home in the fall to do a cut-out on come spring. With a solid 6-8 weeks of winter to go I'm not holding hopes too high but I do know I'm doing a lot better than some folks in my neck of the woods.
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Offline Perry

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2014, 12:05:22 pm »
Lost 2 of 6 nucs, but too early to even guess at the 51 out in the field.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2014, 12:33:44 pm »
DLMKA "'a tree trunk that I hauled home in the fall to do a cut-out on come spring.""

That is soo Cool!
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Offline DLMKA

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2014, 12:48:32 pm »
Quote from: Jen on January 17, 2014, 12:33:44 pm
DLMKA "'a tree trunk that I hauled home in the fall to do a cut-out on come spring.""

That is soo Cool!

I've got a couple tree services that call me when they come across beehives. I taught them how to cut back to where the colony starts on both ends and they bring them back to their shop and I can get them there. I have two in the yard now that will need to be cut out in the spring if they're still alive. If not they become swarm traps.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2014, 01:44:08 pm »
Hey DL- that would make an excellent video! or at least pics of the process!
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Offline DLMKA

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2014, 02:28:31 pm »
Lots of stuff out there. JPthebeeman has a youtube channel with lots of good videos, not many tree trunks though, mostly houses and sheds and the sort.

If I can get some help I'll take some pictures, I usually don't get to take pictures when I do cutouts because my hands and everything gets too sticky to handle a camera or mobile phone.
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Offline greenbtree

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2014, 03:36:33 pm »
I think I am running about 30% at this point, but I had a lot of robbing in the late Fall, about three were really late swarms that I should have combined with existing hives, and I am not sure I should count the two that the dang ponies knocked over when they got out in December.  I put them back together, and the bees were still alive then, but it might have been just too much.
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Offline iddee

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2014, 03:47:02 pm »
Jen, a tree stump is a great way to spend a sat. with a group of new beeks. These were from my local club.


http://s81.photobucket.com/user/Iddee/library/Tree%20stump%20removal%202011?sort=2&page=1
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2014, 04:26:37 pm »
Very Cool! Thanks Iddee
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Offline GLOCK

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2014, 05:45:47 pm »
Been really lucky so far this winter I have lost no hives. 13 DBL. nucs  and 12 DBL. deeps.
Hoping for 100% survival keeping my figure's crossed .
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2014, 05:53:28 pm »
Crossing my fingers for you too!
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2014, 07:05:09 pm »
I still have all five of mine, but I'm in Texas and it's a little easier. I do have to hand it to you guys in the colder regions, though. You really step up to the plate and make it work, even after loosing a few. After reading here and other places about overwintering, I'm not doing hardly anything right. there is no reason any of my hives should still be alive. Sometimes, I think they are surviving just to spite me. Anyway, I still have about a month and a half to go through so we shall see. I'm knocking on just about every piece of wood right now in reach including my head.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2014, 08:18:12 pm »
Lost one so far, the rest are still kicking..  6 - 8 weeks before I'll have a better idea...

  Bee trees also have a secondary purpose onc eyou have cut the bees out of them...




   the other two pieces of this tree got hung up in the wifes store at  $250.00 each. BOTH sold within a week...
   I dont even DO anything fancy.. blow it off, and clear it with Laquer spray, leaving the pieces of wax comb that remain after the cut out.  Put chain on it, hang it up.. and I am getting calls for more regularly. After the first two FAST sales I tried to sell this piece, it has the entrance hole in it, and got BEAT about the head and shoulders by my wife.. so I figured out eventually I cant sell it, shes keeping it ..    >:(
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Offline Perry

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2014, 08:33:53 pm »
So the question is Lazy, who got the $500?
Your tree, your hard work, but the wife's store?  ;D
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2014, 08:47:31 pm »
Not even some promised compensation!!??!!  ;)
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2014, 10:42:40 pm »
LOL..    The Store got it.  So in effect it went to both of us.  If I need anything, supplies, boards, saw blades, mite treatment etc, it all goes through the store and is tax deductible because of the return of wax for candles and sale of honey, as well as hive components sold, and things like the cut up bee tree, and eventually, hopefully, nuc's, queens, and established hives. Yep, my tree, my work, but her support through the store to keep me knee deep in bees.  Works out pretty well. She tells me I cant have something I need I Wave the deed to the building at her, tell her rent is going up, and tell her to go sleep on the couch!!! 

  yeah right...    :laugh:
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2014, 11:39:23 pm »
REALLY! You have a Bee Store?
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #18 on: January 18, 2014, 08:04:42 am »
Its a candle store Mrs Jen, that I sell my bee stuff through :)
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Offline Jen

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Re: Winter losses
« Reply #19 on: January 18, 2014, 02:31:04 pm »
Super Cool! Let us know when your website is up  ;D 8)
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