Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: GaryMinckler on January 25, 2010, 12:06:37 PM

Title: Should I open colonies to feed on a warm,rainy day?
Post by: GaryMinckler on January 25, 2010, 12:06:37 PM
Today it's hitting 50 degrees, but wet.  I have two medium supers of capped honey from colonies that were lost.  I'd like to put one on each of two other colonies to feed.  Should I do it?  When I opened my garage door everything was covered with condensation within seconds. We're in a kind of "January Thaw" type of weather system with lake effect snow predicted by Wednesday.  I'm thinking a sunny,drier but cooler day might be better
Title: Re: Should I open colonies to feed on a warm,rainy day?
Post by: Kathyp on January 25, 2010, 12:09:07 PM
do they need it?
Title: Re: Should I open colonies to feed on a warm,rainy day?
Post by: GaryMinckler on January 25, 2010, 12:27:56 PM
The biggest reason I think they need feeding is when I peeked under the telescoping cover there were a lot of bees around the hole in the inner cover. 
Title: Re: Should I open colonies to feed on a warm,rainy day?
Post by: woodchopper on January 25, 2010, 03:38:34 PM
I did ours in Maine yesterday because I knew this weather was coming and it's suppose to get colder. It was in the high 30's but sunny yesterday so I just did it as quickly as possible. With the extra honey they now have I feel they have a better chance of making it. At 50 degrees I'd have someone hold an umbrella while you add those supers as quickly as you can. That 30 seconds or less that your hive is open won't hurt them but the honey you give them will definitely help them. I'd do it.