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Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:33:06 EST |
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Hi all,
I am a hobby beekeeper that has had a setback that started summer of 2003. I
had returned from a short vacation (I think it was about 10 days) to find 12
of my 13 hives totally abandoned. I chalked my loss up to carpenter ant
invasions and moved the one remaining hive to another "safer" location. Earlier
that Spring, for the first time ever,I had fed a pollen substitute. The
hive that survived was a strong "hot" hive that I now think I skipped feeding.
The next year I purchased 8 established hives and supered them with equipment
from the abandoned hives. Since that time I have had really slow build up
each year and queen loss, many didn't return from their maiden flights) that I
could not keep count of. I made splits and then had to rejoin them. I
usually produce my own queens and I've noticed them to be somewhat smaller these
last two years. Build up has been exasperatingly dismal. My inspector wouldn't
do a roll test because it would decimate the populations.
Ok, I've read most of the posts on CCD and I think somehow I was one of the
early ones to have it. The only thing I can point to is the pollen
substitute. Which I've unfortunately used again this year prior to reading that some
think that could be an incipient cause of the decline.
There isn't much I can add to the above but if anyone wants to talk to me
about it my Tel is 352-324-2105
George Williams
Florida
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