> These are just observations to share as I don't feel like I have enough experience to make major claims about anything.
> Ryan Williamson 

Hi Ryan
If you have 100 hives, raise your own queens, and keep them marked, you are a skilled and experienced beekeeper. While it is true that many lifetime beekeepers don't raise queens, nor mark them, nor keep records, -- the information you have collected is very interesting. 

Could you tell us where you are located? Up here in upstate NY, colonies don't seem to last more than three years. On average, one third being lost every year. Between the mites and the crazy cold winter, it's hard to keep the hives alive!

Pete

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