southwest michigan. Mid 30's during the day but still below freezing at night. Supposed to get into the mid 40's low 50's for a couple days next week but still cold at night. What temp do I need to put on the top feeder? I have a feeling they are getting hungry. I do have a couple of frames of honey in the freezer so I think next week on a warm day I will put a super of the frames below the two brood boxes. If I do that should I put a queen excluder between the honey super and the brood boxes?
thanks bob
first, i would not add a super with a couple of frames. you give to much space if it's still that cold, and unless you put all the frames in the box you'll have a mess. either put the frames on either side of the brood nest, or save them for later. putting the honey below the brood might mean that they do not access it at all. NO queen excluder. there is no reason for it.
feeding when you only get a little warm up can be tricky. my preference is to open feed during the warmth of the day. to do this, it needs to be warm enough that they are flying well. i use a one gallon poultry feeder with the hole screened and rocks in the dish. my second choice would be to put jar feeders over the inner cover during the warmth of the day and take them off in the evening. more work, but works well for the bees. it can also be done at a little lower temp so that's a +, but they must be removed before night or the temp difference may make them drip.
i don't use the hive top feeders so i'll leave that question to someone else.
Whoa there hoss! Yer really champin' at the bit, ain't ya??!!! :-D
If they are out of honey at this point,they'll need more than 1:1 in a feeder. We still have few more weeks of cold ahead of us. If they are out of honey, then you'll need to add fondant or sugar, not a ton at this point, but enough for a few weeks. I use crystallized honey for this, but I only use my own honey on my hives.
Stimulative feeding can be done in the spring, and agree with Kathy...the jar feeders near the cluster are best. You can leave them on at night, just make sure they are near the cluster but not right over it.
I've found that hive top feeders are all but useless in the spring...just too far away from the cluster for them to get to when cold, they get very cold at night and keep that cold during the during the day and the bees don't seem to care about them. A boardman feeder in the spring is more useful....
As far as those few frames of honey...I wouldn't recommend under the brood boxes, I'd actually say if you have a warm day to put it on top, filling in the empty spaces with drawn comb. Or just lay them in a box over the inner cover and let the bees rob them out. Skip the excluder...they'll fill the box and move back down if they do use it.
Another week or 3 and those maples will start shakin' out pollen with a vengeance!! 8-)
Rick
Too cold for syrup, they won't take it if its still freezing at night. You must be pretty close to first willow and maple bloom. I'd give them a patty for a head start and some dry sugar in a separate box right on top of newspaper/nest at first chance you get.
thomas
.
Open the inner cover and look do they have capped food in frames.
If they have, don't feed them
If they fly, feed-um. I use megabe and open 1-1. But, I'm in Azle Texas. IMHO, give-um all the help you can.