>
>           My husband and I got our first hive last spring.  The hive
>           produced honey and grew in population.  Early winter we put
>           the hive into a building because it gets very cold in winter
>           in Iowa.  The building was not heated, but served as a wind
>           break.  The hive had plenty of food and we also gave
>           supplemental food.  My husband looked inside recently, and
>           he said they all looked dead.  None were moving around.
>           Are they dead?  Do they sleep all winter?  Any ideas of why
>           they died?  The hive was brand new, so disease (we hoped)
>           would be kept at a minimum.  Thanks for your help.
>
My guess is that they died of dehydration.  By putting them inside a
building, you cut off their access to water.  In winter, they don't sleep
and they do require access to water.  They also leave the hive for light
exercise in the winter.  So, even though your intentions were "noble", you
should not have moved the hive indoors.
 
Tom Fisher