I've been under the weather somewhat the last couple of days. I've been watching & feeding my bees. This is what I'm seeing; butt loads of pollen coming in (not just millet) huge orientation flights, and this evening when I cleaned out the dry oil pans I could see where they have been going through their stores pretty good. ( also found millet seeds)
Year before last on March the 1st I did a 3 way split off of my double deep hive. The reason was I couldn't find the queen, bees boiling over, and around 6 to 8 swarm cells. 2 of the 3 splits were successful. That was then, this is now, but it's stayed on my mind. So the point is, I'm sure I'm seeing the prelude to swarming. We all know that the cold weather isn't no where near over - at least we think that. Any comments about what I've saw?
I am not versed on what happens when in AL but could it be just a normal winter build up before spring? They don't typically swarm when they have eaten up the stores. they swarm when they stop raising brood and plug the broodnest with nectar.
I have been reading of swarms in Texas this week, so you may want to go into them and look.
Overfeeding syrup can force an early swarm. Be careful.
buzzbee, I feed them somewhat sparingly this time of year for the same reason you mentioned, thanks though.
Iddee, It wouldn't surprise me to find them in swarm mode, however they wouldn't make it if they did swarm.
GFS.
Here in N FL, our bees are building up there numbers on maple nectar and pollen.
Are you seeing drones coming out of your hives. If yes, they may bee getting ready to swarm.
I have not seen any here yet.
I suspect the bees in Texas are absconding, not swarming.
Jim
No drones. I'm in the middle of equipment building. I have 15 to 20 8f deeps built, 9 or 10 bottom boards, and all the other stuff too. However, we're in a tight spot when it comes to mediums. I have the lumber laying on the floor of my shop just looking up at me. I ordered a lot more frames today, mann lake has the wax coated wooden/plastic deep frames for 2.40 each. Free shipping for orders over a hundred dollars.
GFS,
I have at least 12 complete empty hives and more than 55 supers with frames, some drawn, some just plastic and a few foundation less.
The reason for this is that I am now down to just 5 live hives.
I also like Mann Lake. Most my equipment came from them.
Jim
Dang! Sorry to hear you losses! So far I have lost I hive and it had about 60 lbs of honey left in it!
I hope you get them going strong again. You have been a great help for me