Ponderings - keeping bees for honey vs. keeping bees to help the bee population thriv

[Loonerone]

I have noticed that here in Maine, most beekeepers lose hives over the winter on a regular basis. This is disturbing to me as a new beekeeper - I find myself becoming attached to these creatures that have little attachment (if any) to me...so I have been wondering if I would do hive management differently if I wanted nothing more than to increase the bee population and not worry about getting honey? Of course, there must be many people who balance the two, but it seems most people base choices about hive management on maximizing honey. I don't know enough to know what I would do differently, but I am leaning to being a bee steward and doing what I can to multiply the bees and if honey comes, great - if not, ok!

Perhaps this is the basis of the organic bee folks - or is that, too, about honey production? Perhaps this is ramblings of a someone that knows just enough to be dangerous and is terribly ill-informed. if so, I beg your forgiveness and tolerance....

[daknoodle]

I would be willing to bet that Maine beeks loose hives because of the lack of the bees' ability to survive through the winters. It wouldn't really be due to the beeks' lack of management but more due to keeping bees in an environment that they can't survive in.

I go "natural" because I want clean substances that I put into my body. The only difference I can see between someone who was just increasing the bee population and one who is looking for just honey is the amount of honey they harvest. If you want to increase the bee population, don't limit swarming and don't take any honey. If you want JUST honey, then you'll take ALL the honey from the hive and leave the bees to die.

The rest of us are somewhere in the middle. We typically limit swarming to increase the colony's population so that we can take honey while leaving them enough to survive until the next year.

Doug

[NasalSponge]

I agree with Doug.

I find it interesting you say "I find myself becoming attached to these creatures..." as I was thinking this very thing this morning as I watched them working very hard bringing in nectar.:)

[Medovina]

You can start a new business: Bee Daycare. Come pick up my hives in October and bring them back in April unharmed. - for 50 bucks ;-)

[tecumseh]

I would suggest that what you descibe is not so much a management choice but a result of natural forces somewhat to highly beyond the control of humans. A good place to start is to look at the area of natural expansion of bee in Europe. Then compare this to your own location. Just casually from what folks have told me that should have known (I personally have never maintain bees over the winter anywhere except in the southern us of a) you can maintain bees with small amount of capitalization (ie $$$) but the knowledge of what to do or what not to do is a pretty steep and hazardous learning curve.

[tigger]

The first hive I had about 20 years ago didn't make it through its first winter, which was pretty discouraging. I'm trying again with two this year, with no more experience, but a lot more reading on my side.

There will always be loses in cold climates. From what I've read here, and elsewhere, bees' genetics can probably be a factor. If you're willing to deal with propolis, it sounds like requeening with Russians might up your odds some. Or perhaps there's some locally proven stock that onverwinters well.

This, of course, means getting rid of your current queen or queens, which might be tough if you're attached... :)

[MikeJ]

I have noticed that here in Maine, most beekeepers lose hives over the winter on a regular basis. This is disturbing to me as a new beekeeper

From what I read the problem is in any area where winters are cold.
Why do you think you can't keep bees in maine for honey?