Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Dallasbeek on January 09, 2017, 06:04:21 PM

Title: Through a cold spell
Post by: Dallasbeek on January 09, 2017, 06:04:21 PM
After a few days of cold weather (for here), it's up to 66 degrees today and there were bees orienting.  Come on, spring!
Title: Re: Through a cold spell
Post by: Aroc on January 09, 2017, 06:36:05 PM
When it warmed up here the other day to 25-30 I ended up with hundreds of dead bees on the snow.  Attempting cleansing flights but way too cold.
Title: Re: Through a cold spell
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 09, 2017, 08:09:50 PM
Aroc,
An old time trick is to put a shade cover over the entrance of the hive to keep the bees from coming out when it is sunny but too cold.
The old skep videos in what is now Yugoslavia show the Beekeepers doing this in the fall.
Jim
Title: Re: Through a cold spell
Post by: Aroc on January 09, 2017, 09:17:40 PM
Not trying to hi-jack

I did actually have a tarp over the front for just that reason.  Didn't seem to do much good.
Title: Re: Through a cold spell
Post by: bwallace23350 on January 10, 2017, 01:36:22 AM
I have seen my fly some in the warmer days. Not a lot but some. I need to get out there and feed them soon.
Title: Re: Through a cold spell
Post by: mtnb on January 10, 2017, 12:33:44 PM
Sure wish I had some orientating bees. lol Mine have been clustered tight for a while now. We've had some extensive negative temps and the wind....brrrr, but it's supposed to warm up (and it has been. when it hit 0* the other day, up from -30, it felt like a heat wave lol). Mine also fly around 25- 30*F, Aroc, but only just a few. Welcome, btw! Nice to have someone in the neighborhood. :)