(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/07/8d0b334637c324dbd7e9501f5a8b8601.jpg)
Central Vermont. Sunny 23 degrees.
It's been an unusually cold winter, the hive is wrapped. When the sun comes out as spring approaches, I feel it might be given the bees false sense of temperature outside, they seem to fly out and then quickly freeze as its still well below freezing. I think I will remove the wrapping. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Unfortunately, I'm seeing the same thing, the hive loses a certain amount of dying bees everyday, but I think (given that the hives haven't had decent weather to break cluster since mid December) that bee's can't hold it anymore and leading to even more losses with them trying to make purging flights.
I was watching three bees at the entrance hole the othe day, I could tell they didn't want to fly and kept milling around the hole, one by one they flew, hit the 12 degree air and down they went.
I don't think it's your wrap, I use R1 fan wrap on three sides with the fronts open and mine are doing the same thing, just hope you've got enough population to keep a decent cluster till this crappy weather breaks. Better make sure they don't need some feed tho.
I am seeing the same thing,I was told that snow will disorient them especially when its sunny out (and the cold).
I guess its better to see some dead bees outside the hive than none at all :smile:
Somewhere I read that someone figured the reflection off the snow through the entrance gave a false sense of security, they shaded the entrance and numbers of cold fliers went drastically down. Maybe it works. Good Luck. G
The cold has withdrawn and my bees have been flying for a few days. A few small bare patches are beginning to poke through the snow. The dead bees, scattered about on the snow in front of the hive, were not unexpected. The lone drone that buzzed up was very surprising...
Remember - it's early March here on the high plains/front range margin - late winter at best. 'Musta been a product of the warm spell we had in early February... ?
I'm NOT going to start rearing queens just yet :smile:
You know, I saw a drone in one of my hives too. I was surprised. Maybe one or two start wearing drag and pretend to bring in nectar, kind of a reverse Klinger. :grin:
JC
The slot in the snow in front of the hive is from a large piece of foam insulation that was stood up there to shade the entrance. Maybe it helped a little, but then it blew away. I know some will fly out and die, this just seemed like too many for one day, especially with cold temps. All the ones in the pic are from one day.
Oh I see. So they werent flying as much when it was shaded. Interesting maybe that does work. well, one good thing you can take from it is with that kind of loss from cold fliers, you probably got a pretty good cluster still alive this late in the winter. Those bees will be replaced by falf a frame of brood once it warms. id put the foam back. Good luck. G
Hello
I had the same problem for the last few years, they go out and get too cold and die. I have an insulated top with the rectangle opening, so I cut a piece of sheet metal and put some slots in it with a screw driver and screwed it to the opening, the bees have ventilation but can not get out, I did this in late February and just took it off, had a warm spell here and saw quite a few poop marks, the bees may have to come out to poop. This is the first time I have tried this any thoughts?