Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: montauk170 on August 20, 2010, 03:35:31 AM

Title: External colonies - surviving winter
Post by: montauk170 on August 20, 2010, 03:35:31 AM
Just wondering, those swarms that form external colonies, like building their home/combs on tree branches, what are their chances of survive the winter (rain, cold, etc)?

Title: Re: External colonies - surviving winter
Post by: D Coates on August 20, 2010, 10:53:42 AM
Depending where in the US.  Minnesota?, not a chance.  Southern Florida?, decent chance.  The everything else in between with the further north you go the lower your chances get.
Title: Re: External colonies - surviving winter
Post by: montauk170 on August 20, 2010, 01:12:37 PM
San Francisco California area.
I think I'll go save the colony now and work hard to build them up after hiving instead of having them linger there through the cold.