A buddy and I have a single hive. We’ve gone two years in a row with failure. Each had thaws where the hive decided to I cluster and all the bees died
I started with 2 packages 2 years age. I captured one of my own swarms and had three going into winter. I treat for mites but one was looking like it had low numbers. Condensation and freeze-thaw-refrezzes in the spring are killers. 3 degrees this morning. If they are alive they are clustered tighter than Dick’s hat band right now! Mine were swarm crazy this spring. (due to my ignorance) I could have given you another batch.
I only have about a half a quart of eatin honey left so spring time needs to hurry up. Imagine huddling together NAKED with 1000-2000 females and having to writhe around and vibrate so much that the whole group stays 97 degrees inside of a box thats outside in this weather!?!?
I am hoping to have a 10 pound excess this year. I have two brewing vessels set up and am going to try to make some mead. Arrgh!