Silent Night

[Hobie]

I don't like this time of year, bee-wise. I go out to look at my hives. I see nothing moving. I can't hear them when I put an ear to the box, like I could last year. One hive has a few dead bodies tossed out the front... but the other does not, although I can see dead ones inside on the SBB. I am afraid I may have lost the one hive. The not knowing is terrible! Well, knowing might be terrible as well.

*sigh*

[Mitch]

well sometimes you just cant hear the bees buzzing and a few dead bees is normal.I give mine a rap with the hive tool and listen but sometimes still hear nuthing.Then on a warmer day they are out on clensing fights and all is well.

[RonS]

We have had two freezing days so far this winter in south Texas. Makes me glad for my location. Of course, I am feeding, but it is fun to see the bees at their water bowl.

[ScadsOBees]

If you are terribly concerned, you can wait till it is a decent calm day out and slightly crack the cover. That will usually alarm them enough to hear them and perhaps smell the alarm pheremones.

You can also pop the cover for a few seconds. They can tolerate this if you only do it once in a great while.

Rick

[Chef Isaac]

Another simple and effective trick is to blow in the entrance.

[Oldbee]

"One hive has a few dead bodies tossed out the front...but the other does not, although I can see dead ones inside on the SBB. I am afraid I may have lost one hive.---Hobie.

"not knowing is terrible,......knowing is terrible as well"! Hobie.

It seems like you are caught in that proverbial,......."rock and a hard place" with your thinking regarding your bees. You have more than one hive!! Another reason to start out with 2 hives if possible. Your bees will be fine!

[kbee]

Hobie, I agree the waiting is hard. If you really need to do something, This Sunday the temp will be in the mid 40's here in NY. Maybe even higher at your place. You might chance a quick peek then.

[Ravenseye]

Sometimes, I pull the top cover off and there are bees right there, below the hole of the inner cover. My bees tend to stay up top all winter so they're easy to spot. You might take a quick peek....it may be all you need. That doesn't guarantee anything for the balance of the winter, but it might put your mind at rest right now.

[Mike Gillmore]

I hate the waiting part too. The best distraction is to line up all your "busy work" in advance for the winter months. Building parts, frame and box assembly, painting, research, etc. Keeps your mind occupied for a while in the silence and helps the cold days pass a bit faster.

Your temps on Saturday are similar to mine, in the high 40's. I'm going to visit the yards and see if my bees are out flying... they've been cooped up for a while now. If you don't see the girls out on cleansing flights it won't hurt a bit to pop the top for just a minute and see if they come up to check things out. Might help you rest a bit easier to see a few bees climb up on the top bars and shake their fists at you. ;)