About the size of a golf ball. Made sure they were in contact with a frame of honey and we'll see if they can make a miracle come-back. The forecast is for at least another week with temps as low as 8F, so I'm not real confident, but it was still a pleasant surprise.
Golf ball size, not much hope for them in my book.
I do hope the bees make it.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
i did a cut out in october 2 years ago that wasn't much bigger and they got through the winter but they weren't able to build up. you never know, though.
If they survive into spring, perhaps a frame a brood from a strong hive will get them going.
I've had one baseball sized colony come back, a few softball sized...but never a golfball sized one. We wish them luck....they deserve it.
Agreed - if you have some to spare, a frame or two of brood borrowed from another colony could bring success.
I have a baseball size colony this year that is just hanging on. There was very little brood being raised. I guess because there were too few bees to keep it warm. I shook a few bees from a neighboring very strong colony into the hive last weekend and we'll see how they do. Out of 11 colonies going into winter I still have 11 alive and I couldn't make myself give up on this one. Good luck!