April has been cruel, and dang mouse problems

[IndianaHoney]

I went to a yard that I put 4 hives in last year. I know that two were already dead from the winter. But I found that I lost a third hive in that yard. Its a very strange dead out though. When I looked at them in late March they were doing fine, raising brood. I gave them two frames from another hive to give them a boost, and numbers were Ok, not the strongest hive, but not extremely weak. I found the cluster dead today, and it wasn't enough to cover one side of a frame. Looks like they starved with stores less than half an inch away. I noticed that a mouse actually knocked off my mouse guard and got in the hive. Lots of dead bees on the bottom board. I suspect he is the reason for the dead out.

I then looked at another hive that was already a dead out. When I found them dead back in early March, I noticed that a mouse had gotten in. I left the equipment in the hive and the mouse guard on. And the #@$*%&*#!!!! mouse chewed a hole in the bottom board just large enough to squeeze through. That little thing poked his head up and looked at me when I opened the hive. I swear, if I still had my Glock .45 ACP, I would have blown his $*%*@Q$^^!_$%*%*@)%^& {Sigh} *$#%&(*@&#%)*@)#$ head off!

There, I feel much better now. Who am I kidding, no I don't:-(

I took my mouse guards off at another yard before this cold snap. Fortunately they are all boiling with bees.

[iddee]

I had two hives that moved up into the upper boxes this winter and a mouse cut enough wax out to build a nest in each. In Mar. I evicted the mice and cleaned out the nests. The bees have now moved back down, rebuilt the comb, and are in fine shape. This is not the first year it has happened.I think you need to look past the mice for the cause of your deadouts.

[Dave W]

A hive stand on legs that elevates the hive bottom about 16" above ground level works nice. Helps your back, keeps the BB dry, and "legs" are hard to climb. :)