Poping the Top on a Cold One....

[Sundance]

How cold have some of you gone while doing a quick looksy?? I've done it in the high 30's but I'm faced with teens and low 20's (F). I would love to crack the lid on a few to check but am hesitant at 15F. I'm talking 10 seconds here.....

Thanks:)

[MountainCamp]

I have popped the tops with temps in the teens and warmer. The only concern that I would have is where the clusters are located.

I use the empty box on top so that I know that they are not up against the inner cover where I might disturb the cluster.

I have had hives blown over in winter storms and the bees spent at least some portion of the night clustered and exposed to the elements when the temps where in the single digits.

[iddee]

As long as you wear skivies only, you shouldn't have them open long enough to hurt them. :p

[Sundance]

Now thats a concept Iddee. If the cold didn't kill the bees, seeing me in skivies certainly would.;)

[Nick Noyes]

I wouldn't open them. It breaks the propolis seal and makes them hard to haul.

[Sundance]

Good point Nick....... I'll just load and haul and work them in Texas. If some are dead I can use those boxes for splits...

[Gregg]

I agree with Nick, always good to have the lid "stuck on" before you move them (be aware though moving them when it's cold will sometimes cause the lids to pop lose as the propolis is brittle at cold temps). Was also going to say not sure what you would accomplish opening them now anyway, unless you didn't want to haul any dead/weak ones. Do you know someone/or have a place in Texas to take them?

[pahvantpiper]

I've had lids blow off of hives in mid winter (we're talking single digits). I'm not sure how long the cover was off, could have been days or weeks, but the bees survived.

-Rob

[Sundance]

Gregg......... I'll be in the College Station area north of Houston. I have a million things to do and no time to do them though.:):(