after POLAR VORTEX #5 (March 3, 2014)
10 of 22 surviving. Lost one Russian since last check.
* 5 of 9 (55%) Russians are surviving. One is very weak (hard baseball size) and probably won't make it.
* 5 of 13 (38%) of package/Buckfast are surviving. Several sound weak.
All of my hives were started early May or early June. Article in Bee Journal stated that in New York packages started in early May can barely put enough honey away for winter. With this tough winter and the late start its not surprising survival is low. Need warmer weather quickly!
i've posted the FRED's MARCH HIGHLIGHTS from the hives in the COMMENTARY SECTION - take a look there.
Fred's OBSERVATIONS AS OF APRIL 7
"Restacked Hives A and Q"
Hive A - a RUSSIAN queen was out of cluster and flying vigorously
Hive Q - a PACKAGE queen was still in cluster, only 2 bees flying.
***looks like the RUSSIAN STOCK gets moving at colder temps...
(***added) Fred's observations as of April 20
One more package hive just petered out.
FINAL COUNT: 44% of Russians survived; 15% of package queens survived
ADDED feed pails to the two surviving hives and to the two 100% Russian hives
to stimulate them.
5 comments:
UPDATE: 7 Mar 2014--Finally a "warm" day. Down to 8 of 22 hives. Lost the two weak ones from last Monday.
--4 of 9 (44%) Russians surviving.
--4 of 13 (31%) of Buckfast/package queen hives surviving.
--Nothing conclusive, but the Russians are doing better despite starting a month later;
early June vs early May and being started on only 3 frames which had significantly less bees than the 3 lb. packages. That's one positive trait (better winter survival) that Russians are known for.
10 Mar 2014--Walk by. Temperature has got up to low 50's! 8 hives still surviving! 6 had bees flying!
--Many golden spots in the snow.
--4 of 9 (44%) Russians still going. Saw a few bees outside of hives I thought were dead.
Robbers or lost bees from adjoining hives?
--4 of 13 (31%) of Buckfast/package queen hives still going. Bees flying at 2 of the 4.
--Top bar hive is hanging in there.
--All Russian hives were flying vs 50% of others. Is lower temp tolerance another Russian trait?
14 Mar 20144--Walk by. Temp about 42. Only a few bees at hive entrances. 8 hives still surviving.
--4 of 9 (44%) Russians hanging in. Replaced sugar board on Hive A. Cluster was 6-8 inches
dia. on top of frames.
--4 of 13 (31%) Buckfast/package queen hives still going. Hive V and top bar sound weak. Hive V cluster was 3-4 inches in dia.
Note: All Buckfast/package hives were treated with 2 MAQS strips.
The Russians hives were treated with 0, 1 or 2 MAQS strips.
3 had 2 strips-1 is surviving. 33%
3 had 1 strip-2 are surviving. 66%
2 had 0 strips-1 is surviving. 50%
Not sure there is any lesson to be learned here other than Russians with less or no treatment are doing better. All dead outs looked to be from starvation.
14 Mar 20144--Walk by. Temp about 42. Only a few bees at hive entrances. 8 hives still surviving.
--4 of 9 (44%) Russians hanging in. Replaced sugar board on Hive A. Cluster was 6-8 inches
dia. on top of frames.
--4 of 13 (31%) Buckfast/package queen hives still going. Hive V and top bar sound weak. Hive V cluster was 3-4 inches in dia.
Note: All Buckfast/package hives were treated with 2 MAQS strips.
The Russians hives were treated with 0, 1 or 2 MAQS strips.
3 had 2 strips-1 is surviving. 33%
3 had 1 strip-2 are surviving. 66%
2 had 0 strips-1 is surviving. 50%
Not sure there is any lesson to be learned here other than Russians with less or no treatment are doing better. All dead outs looked to be from starvation.
6 Apr 2014--Hit about 60F. All seven surviving hives had bees flying today; either orientation or checking maples.
--Rotated the brood chambers on Hives O and Z. Bees were out of cluster.
--Had veil, but forgot gloves. Stung twice.
--So the final count is 44% of Russians survived. 22% of others survived.
--All deadouts have been cleaned and ready for packages.
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