I don't need to tell anyone that this winter was an extraordinary cold one. I have read two opposing opinions about colder weather and feeding requirements. One says that in colder weather the bees need more food reserves because of increased activity to generate enough warmth. The other theory is that in colder weather they are less active and require less supply. Which is it?
I checked my three hives today, two are still alive and one is dead appears to be starvation as there is no honey left in the two deeps that were full. I started with two nucs last spring. Both did very well, one swarmed and I caught the swarm to start the third. The hive that died was the one that did not swarm, it had a lot of bees, I was surprised how many. Obviously two deeps were not enough. I guess with that many bees I should have given them more reserves? Not sure what I could have done as its been cold for so long, I could not have really cracked the hive open to supplement them with candy boards?
I checked my three hives today, two are still alive and one is dead appears to be starvation as there is no honey left in the two deeps that were full. I started with two nucs last spring. Both did very well, one swarmed and I caught the swarm to start the third. The hive that died was the one that did not swarm, it had a lot of bees, I was surprised how many. Obviously two deeps were not enough. I guess with that many bees I should have given them more reserves? Not sure what I could have done as its been cold for so long, I could not have really cracked the hive open to supplement them with candy boards?