Even push the hive-opening temperature down scale a few degrees. Better to lose a few bees to chilling than the whole colony to starvation.
It has been a rough winter in the southeast for the bees. The long cold spell so far and a poor fall flow have combined to put the bees on the brink. Had we not fed syrup 3 weeks ago, we would have already lost some of the strongest. Details follow:
Current status:
As a result of the syrup feeding, all are in good shape as of today. The reversed empty deep at the top has been filled to prepare it for brood rearing. Only 2 of 11 (the strongest) had just restarted brood rearing. None had their queen lay during the extended cold spell. The others delayed starting, and still don't have any brood. Not having any sign of brood past mid Feb is highly unusual for this area. Concerned about the possibility of queenlessness, we saw the queen in the first two and stopped loking for her in the rest. Beginners take note. Have seen several threads recently about concerns for queenless condition.
Abbreviated history:
Steps in my fall checks did not get done. At about first frost, it looked like they would get the broodnest backfilled at close-out. We should have confirmed that after the first killing freeze. It apparently did not get done and the bees relocated the cluster up on solid capped honey above - abandoning the single deep. At first check in mid Jan, more than half of the clusters were at the inner cover. Could have been avoided with Nov feeding.
In late Jan, most colonies were bringing split loads - both nectar and pollen on the same trip. A clue to an irregular season - early season foraging is generally mostly pollen. They had a need for nectar.
Time to check inside. Decided to feed the lightest. On the feeding pass, empty deeps on the bottom were raised to the top, (Reversed) and comb-fed syrup. In a couple days the syrup comb was dry and we could relax. But on the few days that permitted some foraging, they were still bringing split loads. Comb fed another round with more than the first time. Today, for the first time this season, most of the foragers were bringing full pollen loads. Now they are ready to kick it into expansion gear.
And another cold blast is forcast.
They will be OK. How about yours?
Walt
It has been a rough winter in the southeast for the bees. The long cold spell so far and a poor fall flow have combined to put the bees on the brink. Had we not fed syrup 3 weeks ago, we would have already lost some of the strongest. Details follow:
Current status:
As a result of the syrup feeding, all are in good shape as of today. The reversed empty deep at the top has been filled to prepare it for brood rearing. Only 2 of 11 (the strongest) had just restarted brood rearing. None had their queen lay during the extended cold spell. The others delayed starting, and still don't have any brood. Not having any sign of brood past mid Feb is highly unusual for this area. Concerned about the possibility of queenlessness, we saw the queen in the first two and stopped loking for her in the rest. Beginners take note. Have seen several threads recently about concerns for queenless condition.
Abbreviated history:
Steps in my fall checks did not get done. At about first frost, it looked like they would get the broodnest backfilled at close-out. We should have confirmed that after the first killing freeze. It apparently did not get done and the bees relocated the cluster up on solid capped honey above - abandoning the single deep. At first check in mid Jan, more than half of the clusters were at the inner cover. Could have been avoided with Nov feeding.
In late Jan, most colonies were bringing split loads - both nectar and pollen on the same trip. A clue to an irregular season - early season foraging is generally mostly pollen. They had a need for nectar.
Time to check inside. Decided to feed the lightest. On the feeding pass, empty deeps on the bottom were raised to the top, (Reversed) and comb-fed syrup. In a couple days the syrup comb was dry and we could relax. But on the few days that permitted some foraging, they were still bringing split loads. Comb fed another round with more than the first time. Today, for the first time this season, most of the foragers were bringing full pollen loads. Now they are ready to kick it into expansion gear.
And another cold blast is forcast.
They will be OK. How about yours?
Walt