Readying For Winter
All my hives are pulled down to 3 Western supers , as they are every year. They seem strong, All with tin tops to fend off the rain, which comes in spurts, and all pretty much on their own. I did what I thought I could to knock down mites, and have some optimism- but not sureness, that the hives are not moving into the winter infested. If they are not- then I hope that when December comes, that they are still healthy. I think I take it a little more personally than I should, not stoically, and also- I realize that I don't really know a dang thing- and what ever happens, is, like so many things, luck.
I think, in retrospect, of what it might be that killed off hives last winter, and why, or why not, I might experience the same this year, My best guess is that losses reflect my lack of dilgence- that I missed things, clues, and lacked the necessary knowledge (though I thought I had it- I admit), to deal with something I will hopefully do better with from here on in. Mites mostly- and understanding the importance of being aware of them, despite not seeing them readily. If I could bust open some brood, and look for them, this week, next week, I think that would tell me a lot.
Its really almost too much work. I find that 20 hives, plus nucs, pretty much consumes me. I don't get how I could manage more right now, not with mites.
In my experience, I am thinking that this is something that snowballs, not from March to October, and that then the clock is reset- but from year to year. I treated a lot- through all that time- and still- strong hives, the best, saw mite problems, despite treatments. And so much worse than before, like each year is worse. I am hoping this year will be a break through? A Spring in 2018 that starts out with few mites?
Even without them, there are plenty of other things to take care of. But this is, above all, the biggest thing right now. I am using Apivar this time- MAQS earlier- and have tried a few new things (slatted bottoms, and rarely reversing supers)- but I don't know at all if anything I have done will make a dffirence. So much like almost every endeavor in life.
I think, in retrospect, of what it might be that killed off hives last winter, and why, or why not, I might experience the same this year, My best guess is that losses reflect my lack of dilgence- that I missed things, clues, and lacked the necessary knowledge (though I thought I had it- I admit), to deal with something I will hopefully do better with from here on in. Mites mostly- and understanding the importance of being aware of them, despite not seeing them readily. If I could bust open some brood, and look for them, this week, next week, I think that would tell me a lot.
Its really almost too much work. I find that 20 hives, plus nucs, pretty much consumes me. I don't get how I could manage more right now, not with mites.
In my experience, I am thinking that this is something that snowballs, not from March to October, and that then the clock is reset- but from year to year. I treated a lot- through all that time- and still- strong hives, the best, saw mite problems, despite treatments. And so much worse than before, like each year is worse. I am hoping this year will be a break through? A Spring in 2018 that starts out with few mites?
Even without them, there are plenty of other things to take care of. But this is, above all, the biggest thing right now. I am using Apivar this time- MAQS earlier- and have tried a few new things (slatted bottoms, and rarely reversing supers)- but I don't know at all if anything I have done will make a dffirence. So much like almost every endeavor in life.
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