I'm a new Ohio beekeeper as of last spring. I have 3 hives, Italian pkgs
from York. 2 deeps on each. This is my first winter and I made a beginner
mistake. Mouse guard entrance reducers on all 3 in Sept but noticed wasps
coming and going from one hive regularly in Oct. Hive was horribly light in
Nov. Finally checked and hive had been robbed of most honey and most bees
dead. Queen okay and small cluster left. Closed off bottom entrance and left
only top entrance (1/2 moon through edge of inner cover) open since cluster
was located in top super. Later, front of hive covered w/brown streaks like
nosema. Question: What should I do? There don't seem to be enough bees left
to make it? I want to open the hive and put a boardman feeder in with
Fumidil. Should I remove the bottom super at that time, close off the upper
entrance and maybe put some type of robber screen on? Will the hive be able
to regain enough strength to protect a reduced front entrance again? Help!