JeremyCleaning out dead hives is the saddest part of beekeeping.
2 more to go. Sigh.
At least the weather is good for the work, I guess.
Brian 
@steamworkgroup Same up here. I'm really bummed because they looked great heading into winter. I'm going to do mine this weekend.
@brianb Thanks! Unfortunately here, I had a massive increase in mosquito spraying and at least one documented instance of a bunch of dead small fish in the creek they use.
This may be the last year I try if my neighbors don't change their behavior.
I hope you fare better this year!
Todd@steamworkgroup aww that stinks, I'm sorry
amd@steamworkgroup i have two staring at me from the apiary too.
My condolences. Hope this year goes well for you.
@amd Sorry that you're in the same boat! What happened in your case, if it can ask? For me, it was neighbors using pesticides and potentially a polluted creek that the bees use all the time.
(I replaced queens 3x times last year!! Then every quarter or so, queen was verified dead. No wasps were even sighted all year, and a huge drop in fireflies...fish dead in the water.)
@steamworkgroup its tragically on me, I think.
These two were first year splits and I just couldn’t get them to pack on enough 2:1 to make it through the winter.
I probably should have pinched a queen and combined…but hindsight is always 20/20