Having just brought out my hives from their in-door wintering room, the 
loss count is 4%.

This is the count of actual "dead outs".

It would be unusual if the loss percentage remains so low, as losses 
normally continue (weak colonies fail due to varied reasons) throughout 
the following few weeks.

These losses may be due to -

Queen failure.
Cluster size unable to provide enough heat to generate / maintain the 
brood area.
Too high % of winter bees : Spring bees.
Small cluster size and weather conditions. (-7 degrees celsius several 
nights (07/04/2006) ago with predicted high of 20 degrees tomorrow 
(10/04/2006))
Possible robbing of colonies in spring holding yard.

Other conditions resulting in stresses (eg. low nosema infections)

Colonies taking up diluted HFCS and dry Bee Pro.
Elms should be in flower in a weeks time.

Regards,

Peter
Darlingford
South Central Manitoba
Canada

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