Dead Hive

[Frohnho]

Hi Everybody,
I have a hive that died. I think they starved. There is not even one cell of honey and there are many, many dead bees with there heads in cells. There is, I think, capped and uncapped brood . Question 1. Is it safe to assume they starved or do I need to look for other problems ? Question 2. What do I need to do to the hive to prepare it for a new package of bees ?

[Ian]

From your observations, yes, they starved. Throw the new package in, they will do fine. Be sure you have surip feed in the hive for the new package.

Ian

[Zeke]

i agree with Ian,
it sounds like they starved .
in the future you might do well to check the hive in the fall(to make sure they have enough feed ,usually two deeps full of honey is enough but you should check them around the last of Feb.or first part of March to ensure that the hive has enough feed to keep them going till the honey flow starts).
good luck,
Zeke

[hoosierhiver]

try to get the any dead bees off the frames that you can,clean off the bottom board,i usually sit the hive boxes with frames on their side for a day and let them air out.