Are any of the hives getting robbed?

 

I don't think so

 

Mine were out seeking water.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OANkJPlJi7I&feature=youtu.be

 

A mystery....maybe newly hatched winter bees investigating stuff? Some of mine were orienting, not as many as last time though.

 

ya I have orienting every day, I'm puzzled though, maybe they've got nothing to do /shrug

 

What was the temperature when you took the video? Could it be that the bees were just getting warm before flying back to the hive?

 

It's the open feeder. I learned that lesson on my quarter acre property, it's just not enough space away from the hive for them to orient correctly and they just end up all over the place, on gutters, roof, walls, doors, total frenzy. I've definitely come to the conclusion that in a packed residential area, open feeding is never worth it. To make matters worse the bees would be annoying for a week or two after removing the food source.

 

It's the open feeder.

This! I am embarrassed to admit that I overlooked the last sentence in the initial post. Bees respond to any sort of 'free lunch' pretty much in the same manner. They begin a search of the entire area....every nook and cranny....in an apparent effort to uncover any other sources.

 

It was 56 I think, I guess I'll take up the feeder bucket, they really don't need it.

 

Thanks all, I took up the feeder and they quit, they are all out today doing orientation flights, it's 60 degrees.

 

Good explanation, I put a link to Boogerhill in the video.

 

.......Are they just looking for something to forage? I have an open feeder out.

If you do this, make sure your open feeder smells very, very well and strong - they will not be confused looking for it all over - they will work it by the smell.
Old, well used combs in your feeder will do this.

On few, sunny and warm days in late fall, I have them dry the sticky C&S residue.
A black container placed by the sunny and warm house wall AWAY from the hives as far as possible.
No complaints.
Even I can smell the "feeder".

PS: I am not pro-open feeder in general (been discussed); just need a cleanup job done.

 

I have been open feeding for a month or more, but I usually put a pack of grape koolaid in it, that smells real sweet, I was talking to Fred Dunn on his live chat, and he discouraged the use of that.

 

He discouraged the use of "grape koolaid"?
OR
He discouraged the use of a substance that "smells real sweet"?

And why?

 

Koolaid, Noone ever says why, I was using it to color the syrup, so I would know where it is in the Spring.

 

I wouldn't want to put more impurities in the syrup to make the bees have to defecate in the winter. Also, depending on the kind of Koolaid it might have artificial sweeteners in it rather than the sugar kind, which would be bad. Why not just use a drop of food coloring instead, would be cheaper if you wanted the coloring with less chemicals.

As for open feeding, I fed right in my yard for a week or so and didn't see bees all over my house like you were saying (more than what normally happens as they like to hang on the house when having a bathroom break). Maybe the extra solids in the syrup made them have to go potty more?

 

They did not hang on the house with the koolaid, but rather without it, maybe the smell was different.
Ingredients: Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Calcium Phosphate, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Artificial Flavor, Red 40, Blue 1.
it's only .24 a pack, it would take alot of dye which cost more.

 

I would not worry too much of Koolaid and use it if have to.
On the other hand, after spending 9K on bees, buying a bottle of generic food dye for 3-4$ is a small increment.
If you get lucky, stock up on a food dye clearance.
I did just that and now set until year 2031.

 

lol, I spent enough this year, I've got to make all that back

 

I ordered this when I ordered sugar, it should last me several years unless I spill the bottle

https://www.walmart.com/ip/McCormick-Culinary-Green-Food-Color-1-pt/199353635