2026 Layens Colony Survey

Welcome to our 2nd annual Wild Hives Layens colony survey.

Our hope in gathering this data each year is to inform our growing community about what others are doing to prepare their colonies for winter and the insights we might learn to improve our own overwintering success year after year.

SURVEY RUNS FROM
March 14th to April 18th

Please help us to expand the reach of this year's survey by reposting it on Facebook and/or directing other Layens beekeepers to it who you feel might be interested.

Thank you for your participation.

2026 Layens Colony Survey

2026 Layens colonies winter survival. The purpose is to begin gathering data on the overwintering success rate for Layens hives and management practices that might have impacted survival.

Country (Required if outside of the United States)

State(Required)

City(Required)

Zip Code(Required)

What type of beekeeper are you?(Required)

How many colonies did you take into the winter?(Required)

What was the average size (in frames) of your colonies going into winter?(Required)

If you had to rate the condition of your colonies going into winter what would it be on average?

ExcellentPretty goodNeutralNot so greatTerrible

What was the date of your spring inspection to determine if you colonies survived?(Required)

How many colonies survived the winter?(Required)

If you lost colonies over the winter do you have any ideas of why?

Did you inspect or get into your hives over the winter?

Yes

If so, for what purpose?

Did you treat your colonies in 2025?(Required)

Yes

If so, what did you use to treat?

If so, when did you treat?

Did you feed your colonies in 2025?(Required)

Yes

If so, what type of feed did you use?

If so, when did you feed?

Are you feeding your colonies this spring?(Required)

Yes

If so, what type of feed are you using?

Did you insulate your hives?(Required)

Yes

If so, what type of insulation do you use? R-value? How is it applied?

Do you vent or insulate your lid?

Vented Lid

Insulated Lid

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