It was such and awful summer I had to supplement them with sugar water in mid summer. And I didnt get to harvest anything.
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It could happen anytime there is a bad season. We are beekeepers and responsible for the bees in our care.
It?s different with feral colonies or wanting to be a bee haver. Then you might leave them to nature.
As long as you are the one to manipulate them and own them you are responsible. IMO
I did not feed my established 11 hives this summer when we were in a drought, but I fed my 4 new packages. They had to build comb and used up the food frames I started them on.
I wanted the numbers to be strong enough to go into winter as established colonies and able to store some honey for winter.
In late June a co-worker bred from my best tf queen and he created 4 splits to give back to me, one was with the old queen. I gave two splits with daughters, mated, to a co-worker to expand his beeyard.
I advised to feed though they all had comb, for it was in the drought.
He has had the same opinion as Ace and did not feed, I fed mine. Mine are still alive, his never thrived and died in late fall, the small number at the end was robbed by neighbor colonies.
After this experience I will never give away a split for free. It was a gift and he let them die on purpose.
LiL you did not let them starve on purpose. Learn about them now, take the advise from your association, get some help and enjoy your bees!