It is snowing now what?

[harvey]

Ok it is snowing,  I haven't seen my bees in a month they are all inside.   Now what, this is my first year having bee's.  Do I just forget about them till spring?    They had a good bit of stores put up?    Do I  just sit inside and wait and hope?   or what?    Do I open it up on a sunny day and dump sugar on top?   

[Kathyp]

if they had plenty of stores, they should be good.  keep the snow from the entrance so that they can fly when it warms a bit.  the sugar won't hurt.  i keep sugar on my hive all winter mostly because it makes me feel better  :-)

[contactme_11]

Harvey, don't stress. Stay busy with other stuff. Build some new equipment for next season, paint it. Order a couple of packages and be excited. Buy a stethoscope and go out and listen to the boxes. Read a book and learn some new stuff. Winter can be boring otherwise.

[Bee Happy]

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. (couldn't resist) :evil:

[harvey]

Hey I have a stethescope!    Could I really hear the bee's?  I thought they would cluster and kinda be dorment in there.   Since it is pretty cold.  30 degrees would it hurt to take the top off quick and put sugar in?   They had quite a bit of honey but I didn't put any sugar on the top?    I do plan on taking advantage of Dadent's offer and getting equipment for two more hives come spring.   Three sounds like a good number for next year?!  Maybe?  I don't want to many but one is not enough.   Course I have quite a bit of honey for just me right now.  Next year I would like to start being able to give it to family and friends.   

[RayMarler]

Yes, three is a nice number of hives to have.
Yes, use the stethoscope, and knock lightly on the top or side of the hive with your knuckles.
It may be 30 degrees outside, but it's a bit warmer than that inside the hive.
They'll keep it 50 or so when no brood is being raised, 94 if larva being fed.
That's what the winter stores of honey is for, they turn it into heat.

[Michael Bush]

>Do I just forget about them till spring?

Yes.  You might want to lift the hives in March and see how they are doing for stores.