This is what happens when you start feeding the bees early and then you don't keep feeding them through a cold March...
The population explodes and then they starve. The queen is still alive, and I think the hive will eventually recover, but I won't get any honey from this one this year. I'm guessing about 15,000 dead bees.

Oh no, I'm sorry you suffered that loss, Arlene. We didn't have a good year last year. One hive was lost to wax moths all but one hive just collected enough to keep them going even though there was plenty for them to forage on.

We tend to keep the sugar syrup out until they quit taking it. Our bees have been going full blast bringing in stuff and the hives are almost ready for a super to be added on.

Hopefully, the rest of the season will be much better for your bees.

Ouch!

I'm sorry for your loss, Arlene. I just transferred 5 acorns to you so you can get the beekeeper badge.

Thanks, Marilyn.

I know, what a disappointment. My son is the beekeeper but we help him with some stuff. We have other hives but sure is a disappointment and I hate to see this happen to the bees. Hopefully the hive will recoup.

We lost our first hive this way. I quit feeding them and sometime in late winter they died out and when I opened the hive I found them all dried up in the bottom. It was highly disappointing and discouraging. But then a while later a neighbor called with a swarm in her yard and we went and got it and were back up and running in no time.

Every community has that person who has taken it upon themselves to be in charge of the swarms that get called into the water department or other utility. Get to know that person and they'll give you a swarm.

And we see often on Craigs List people wanting someone to come and get a swarm. My son has gotten some this way but he travels a lot so it's not something he can always do. His hives have swarmed twice but luckily he was home and able to get them and start a new hive. Fascinating thing, a swarm of bees!

My gosh, so sorry! I just started beekeeping with 2 hives and lost a Queen first thing out but I hope to never see such a sad sight as all the bees you lost....

We lost one of the new queens we got this spring. They never ate the candy in the queen box and all of the bees in the box died.

We combined the two hives and they are thriving now if doing things a bit backwards We thought at first they weren't doing well but a recent check showed that instead of exiting and entering through the hive entrance they were going in and out of the top. They are filling the top box up and working their way down to the bottom box. Switching boxes will take care of that hopefully.