>>2549004Started beekeeping last year by buying two packages of Italians... Then I caught a swarm out of a bee tree.
Treated for mites on all the hives. didn't take much honey so they would be fat for winter. Wrapped the hives and insulated the top covers. Put on dry sugar just in case.
Both of the hives of the purchased bees died out. I'd estimate both hives still had about 40-60lbs of honey in the deeps and all the dry sugar so I know they didn't starve out. What I've learned is wild bees are based. If you're getting into bee keeping try to get wild bees or buy from a local ish apiary that has good overwinter success.
Also slatted racks and screened bottom boards are a fucking meme..
