Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Ernest T. Bass on May 16, 2009, 12:05:34 AM

Title: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: Ernest T. Bass on May 16, 2009, 12:05:34 AM
Hi all,

I checked my two four-week-old hives today and they seem to be doing great. Most of the foundationless frames were completely filled and the brood pattern is extremely tight. Lots of stuff is in bloom here in the U.P now, so I removed their feeders. I also added another medium box of foundationless frames, and moved one frame of bees (not from the middle of the brood) up into the new box.

Only problem is (and I wasn't aware earlier), our weather is about to get a little crazy here. Tonight will get down near freezing, and tomorrow night's going to be 24 degrees F! I'm worried that the colonies will lose their heat with the extra box, and that the frame of brood I moved up will get chilled and die. Are these fears justifiable? :)

Thanks a bunch,
Andrew
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: Bee-Bop on May 16, 2009, 09:44:23 AM
It's a gamble !

Unless You can undo your doings.

I would suggest closing any vents and reducing the opening to as small as possible, 1/2 in. { blocks of wood will do} temporally !

Best of luck
Bee-Bop
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: Kathyp on May 16, 2009, 10:10:56 AM
your worries are justified, but these things happen.  the hive will make up for what it has lost.  you are not going to have an extended period of cold days and nights at this time of the year.  you may lose some brood but it won't hurt them in in the long run.
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: Ernest T. Bass on May 16, 2009, 01:13:44 PM
I taped every gap except the 3/8'' entrance and am going to keep my fingers crossed... I can't go into the hives now; it's 40 degrees w/ 40 mph wind gusts. I feel bad for expanding their warm hive at such an inopportune time!
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: rast on May 16, 2009, 01:16:33 PM
 You could always throw rocks at em :-D.
If yall dont't know Ernest T.. It went over your head.
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: hankdog1 on May 16, 2009, 02:43:06 PM
Quote from: rast on May 16, 2009, 01:16:33 PM
You could always throw rocks at em :-D.
If yall dont't know Ernest T.. It went over your head.
"Look at me I'm Ernest T."  hehehe at least it didn't go over my head
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: MustbeeNuts on May 16, 2009, 03:04:33 PM
it's me its me its's Ernest T.   Now were showing our age. LOL
Title: Re: Should I be worried about my hives?
Post by: Ernest T. Bass on May 17, 2009, 12:01:31 AM
"One in the same, 'Bass' is the name!"

And I'm 19... :D

EDIT: Didn't realize my sig said that.. kinda ruins it. I'll have to think of something else he said that rhymed..

"I ain't talkin', I ain't talkin'! The more you're asking the more I'm balkin'!"