From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 13:04:15 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Regression Questions

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

A beekeeper in Canada wrote:

> Bees can fly
> usually up into 0ctober, but only for short periods daily.
>
> I count my bees being "house bound" from early September on until some time
> in April, that's close to eight months.

Reply:

If your bees can fly for short periods daily, normally for cleansing
flights, up into October, then you should not count them as house bound
until they cannot fly, period.

When do they start short periods of flight daily in the spring?

> I lost all bees the winter of 99/00
> due to the extreme length of winter. I again lost all bees this past winter
> To combat overwintering
> problems has been my number one priority. To become a biological beekeeper
> is my goal for the future.

Reply:

If your bees are not overwintering, which they should easily be, you have
either a bad varroa problem on too big of enlarged comb, or could be too
much chemical residue buildup for apistan in the combs necessating comb
rotation and changeout, or you do not have enough natural honey and pollen
stores in your frames to assure adequate overwintering.

Describe the internal makeup of your colonies going into winter if you would
please.

It is nice to read that you wish to go back to biological ways and avoid the
various treatments that cause harm to bees.

Dee