NNY Bees

Hobbyist beekeepers starting in 2015. Natural beekeeping to me means allowing the bees to make their own comb and the use of no chemicals in the hive. Our first hive is a top bar hive which made it through our first northern New York (NNY) winter. The second summer I split this hive but neither hive made it through the 2nd winter. Our second hive is the more common eight frame Langstroth 8 frame hive starting from a nuc, this also did not make it through winter. I have also built a number of swarm traps to catch swarms, no luck so far. I'm beginning 2017 by purchasing two nucs from a local beekeeper who does not treat and trying my hand at collecting bees from a cutout. Been away from keeping and beginning again in 2024 with a single nuc. Plan to treat for mites with oxylic acid and keep the bees in 2 deep 8 frame brood boxes.