Yesterday we opened our hives for one last check before Winter winds start to howl. Our goal was to check the health of the hives, supply some extra sugary syrup if honey supplies were low, and then wrap each in warm black paper blanket to help insulate them.
We checked three out of five hives and were saddened to find no evidence of Queen, or brood (babies) or even drones. This is an especially bad sign, for if there is no brood to replace the aging workers, the hive will eventually die. 
We are hopeful that we may have missed a pocket of young somewhere within the hive, but it is doubtful. We wrapped each for the Winter in hopes that we are wrong and they survive til Spring. 
Most likely we will have to start over in the Spring with new hives, new bees and new Queens. It is a mystery why this is happening....but we will not quit. We are committed to doing what we can to preserve this creature that so much of life is dependant upon.
We checked three out of five hives and were saddened to find no evidence of Queen, or brood (babies) or even drones. This is an especially bad sign, for if there is no brood to replace the aging workers, the hive will eventually die. We are hopeful that we may have missed a pocket of young somewhere within the hive, but it is doubtful. We wrapped each for the Winter in hopes that we are wrong and they survive til Spring. Most likely we will have to start over in the Spring with new hives, new bees and new Queens. It is a mystery why this is happening....but we will not quit. We are committed to doing what we can to preserve this creature that so much of life is dependant upon.
Comments
Terri
beekeeping is such a mystery to me - I would have thought new bees in a cleaned out hive would have worked fine
how very sad that the hive may be completely gone :(
I feel like a new colony of bees might have a better chance with a whole new hive(s).
We just do not know why honeybees are so very fragile right now. I want to optimize the chances of success.
Hugs,
Maryjane
sometimes the bees need a bit of supplement when the weather gets cold in colder areas.
(that's what I have read anyhow..that some folks have to actually feed the bees in the winter months to keep the hive alive when the flowers have faded out)
I'd like bees at ThistleDew but I know it takes some work and I'm not quite ready to commit.
Your pony pictures are lovely, and moonbeam is a yummy boy. I'm very tempted by halflingers, but Merlin wouldn't have any of it!
Kim x
Yes, I think new hives are in your future..so sad this is happening. I've read a few articles about the bees abandoning hives but I'm not educated enough or even remember why they think it is happening. We definitely need to save the bees and figure out what is causing these things to happen. Our food supply depends on them.
You have a good week and drop by for a visit.
Hugs, Steph
Queen of Dreamsz