Mid winter inspection

[Ross]

63 degrees, sunny, windy. I just popped the lids on everything for a quick look. Started the winter with 14, still have 14. Lots of small bees, so they are most likely rearing brood already. Lot's of bees period in most boxes. Still have stores. Lot's of attitude since I didn't smoke.

One hive in particular tried to kick my butt. That is the same hive that entered the fall with a wierd (marked) queen. She was hive made in the late summer. She seemed to be laying half workers and half drones in the fall, with some of the drone in worker cells (or maybe sharing the hive with laying workers). That hive will have to get a new queen at least.

[NW IN Beekeeper]

You are very lucky you are able to do your mid-winter inspections!
My winter started the 21st, so I still have 2 more months until mid winter- hehehe...
I know what you meant, mine all aout doing cleansing flights today, the first its been over freezing in a couple of weeks.
I'm glad they've made it this far.

Jeff

[bourdeaubee]

my bees are in about 3 feet of snow with a little tiny hole at the top for an exit.
hopefully they will make it though the 1.5 feet we're getting monday

[Joel]

Deep Snow is good, it insulates hives from wind and actually helps mitigate temperature fluctuations due to mass. There can be an increased problem with ventilation and thus condensation but hopefully you have your tops shimmed. A little tiny top entrance concerns me. Some of the best northern wintering I've had was in deep snow. Keep the upper entrance clear and you may be suprised in the spring.

[bourdeaubee]

the little tiny hole is about 5/8 of an inch and about 4 inches from the top, in a syrofoam hive. hopfully it makes it.Its worked in the past but not in this kind of snow. I am starting to think maybe I sould have shimmed the top.oops