Fyi

[clintonbemrose]

I just completed placing candy boards on all 10 of my hives today
The weather here has been wet and in the 50's with many bees flying around.
Today it was cooler so I opened the tops to check where the clusters were. To my surprise all clusters were at the top of the hives and the hives were very light. When we got ready for winter all hives had about 150 pounds of honey in them. Now all were on the verge of starvation.
You may need to check your hives!!!
I will place pollen pattys the first of February here.
Clint

[Moonshae]

Tipped my hives yesterday, both still nice and heavy.

[peggjam]

I also checked stores on most of my hives and found some heavey, an some really light. Put feed on all that needed it.:)

[Robert Hawkins]

In my experience, Jan and Feb have been the months I came closest to losing hives to starvation. NOw is the time to check your hives.

Mr. Bemrose, I know you have a reason. I just can't figure why you start pollen feeding in feb in Mich. That's one cycle to the beginning of Mar. Second cycle darn near puts you in April. I would expect your first flow to bee in May or June. That puts you feeding for two months.

Disclaimet: This is a question. I don't know the seasons in Michigan. I've never been close to the State. I'm not criticizing anyone. Just asking a question. And I'm not a redneck.

Hawk

[BigDaddyDS]

Robert,

While Michigan has several climates, with some areas, like the U.P. that are quite cold for long periods, most of Michigan is rather like southwestern Kentucky, or eastern Tennessee, climate-wise and growing season-wise.

That means that we get our dandelions around April 1, and apple and cherry trees around April 15th, or so. Some areas will also get willows (for pollen) around the middle or March.

So, Clint's February target date isn't a bad one. And actually, in my plans, I anticipate being just a couple weeks behind him. Since the lake keeps my bees a little cooler in the spring and, likewise, my growing season is a little longer for the same reason, our plans appear to be very similar.

DS

[clintonbemrose]

I do this because of the flows here. A lot of fruit trees, Pussywillows and others make a fairly good flow in late March here and I also make splits at this time for my students so I want strong hives by early April. Some times I win and other times I feed longer. Good reply Big Daddy DS. You have done your home work.
Clint

[Mitch]

How big of candy boards are you makeing or how many are you going to have to use.The reason i ask is if not so long ago you had 150lbs of honey on the hives it just sounds like alot of food.

Could it be maybe robbing or something