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I just need to post my anxiety over the possibility of letting my bees die out through the winter. I left them 3-4 boxes of stores each ( 8 frame mediums), but the rest is up to them. Mite counts were really high last week, but brood production has dropped off with the temps so perhaps that Will slow the parasites down. Fingers are crossed, but it is going to be a long anxious winter! First treatment free year jitters I suppose.
Don't sweat it, if they all die there's always next year. Catch a swarm, do a cutout, buy a package. Lots of ways to get bees. Best of luck to you though =)
Due diligence would say to requeen with known mite tolerant genetics before going cold turkey.
Hang in there buddy. You can do it! Takinga risk is the process of gaining the knowledge weighing the factors and moving forward. Gambling is calculating the odds and then jumping off a cliff.
Expect 100% loss. Then you will be pleased if one makes it thru the Winter strong enuf to split. How many do you have?
This winter will give you a chance to save up some money to purchase new bees next spring.Seriously,good luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishman43
3 full size hives with genetics out of Palmer's beesQuote:
Originally Posted by sqkcrk
I made 8 nuc splits in August to overwinter with the following queens (3 Purvis bros, 4 Russell sunkists, 1 caught swarm)
That sounds pretty good going into winter situation to me. According to Palmer's nuc model anyhow :D Good luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishman43
This is actually some really really good advice. I expected 100% loss on my 3 colonies last winter, all 3 made it through and it made for a very good spring.Quote:
Originally Posted by sqkcrk
Hang in there. Expect the worst, but hope for the best. Good luck!
Yes, I'm with Mark (sqkcrk) on this one. Expect to get hammered, and then it'll be a pleasant surprise if you don't.
I'm in the same boat this year.
Adam
As I understand it the real losses come in the 2nd and 3rd winter. I have lost 2 so far this fall and they were in the 2nd and 3rd seasons, TX free.
I will take one winter at a time. Next summer will see more splits (if I have hives to split from), so they will be going into their first winter in 2013. One (cold) foot in front of the other...Quote:
Originally Posted by RiodeLobo
Thanks all for the support!
Same here. This was just the first losses I have had due to mites. Keep the faith and plan for the worst and hope for best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishman43
I am right there with you...this is our very 1st year of beekeeping and have used no chemicals. I did do one powdered sugar shake mid Sept. after high mite count(which dropped quite a few) but, that is it. I am surrendering to the bee universe and hoping for the best! I am determined not to give up...Our neighbor did nothing and his bees survived(call it benign neglect:)) so I am hoping the same for our bees! Best of luck and know you are not along!
I don't think that 'low expectations' is the best mindset to have when starting treatment-free beekeeping.
I would advocate having a workable plan that falls within the norm for beekeeping.
For instance, after an initial failure and some rethinking, I restarted with a known resistant breed, VSH, and then planned to split to survive, obtaining the equipment (nucs) to do so.
Currently, I'm interested in building some 2 or 3 frame mating nucs since I feel that it would go a long way towards making splitting, and selection, easier.
I am not a fan of the "Bond, Live and Let Die" school of treatment-free beekeeping.
I do like the MDA splitter concept. It makes sense.
So, there is a difference between 'treatment-free' beekeeping and 'management-free' beekeeping.
[Edit]
Well, yeah, but this guy is simply jumping in blindly w/ both feet. So I was stating reality as I see it. It doesn't look like a lot of thought or planning happened, other than nuc building for overwintering.
That is a mighty large assumption about me based on very little information!Quote:
Originally Posted by sqkcrk
On the contrary I have read, watched, and listed to everything I can get my hands on since begining this adventure ~18 months ago and made what I hope is (as closely as possible) a calculated risk. My ultimate goal is treatment free, why continue with a crutch that doesn’t allow me or my bees to build their strength. My original post was only to vent a little of the anxiety I am feeling. I am sure that many, regardless of their management style, feel some amount of concern for their bees survival over the winter. I do not fool myself that I have given them an extra large hurdle to that goal. Blindly assuming I didn’t think of ever pro and con I could imagine or had been posited by others is a negative assumption by you.
I followed the link in your signature before, it seems you want to promote a helpful, positive, supportive community. How about helping in that regard instead of assuming you know my background.
Best regards,
Dan
Well, sorry about that, but I can't see any more than what you show and I didn't see any planning, just jumping in w/ both feet. If you did plan, good. What more can be said. I wish you luck. I just know from experience that the odds are against you and you should be pleased w/ one good strong hive making it thru the winter.
I'm glad you looked at the link. I fall short of the ideal all the time. Don't know anyone who doesn't. Sorry 'bout that.
Thank you for the apology. I know I didn't provide much information as I was mostly looking for moral support from others who have walked the path before me. One strong hive would be a blessing, although I do hope (against the odds perhaps) for a nuc or two to make it through as well.