roller coaster weather! Feed or not

[labradorfarms]

The temps here have been 18 -34 lately. This weekend they are giving out 69 for the high....

My question is should I take atvantage of the warm weather and give them some liquid feed this weekend?

My hives were heavy this fall, but I am still using the Mountian camp method just to be sure in the cold weather.

Id rather my bees have more than they need than starve to death....

[GSF]

If your hives are heavy I wouldn't. Two reasons, one, you'll break the propolis on the areas they sealed up. Probably sealed because of a draft, two, (internet reading)if they fill up the comb they won't have any place to cluster and could possible freeze. There'll be warm days in Dec, Jan, Feb, ect. From my reading, in our area it's usually the tale end of winter when they starve out.

As bee keepers we feel compelled to do "something". A lot of times that something isn't necessary and could be counter productive. But we have a warm and fuzzy because we did "something". I'm guilty as well.

[capt44]

I'm just across the great water from you in Central Arkansas.
The weather's been the same way here too, colder'n who thought it and suppose to be warm for the next few days.
I use a 5 gallon bucket feeder set away from the hives around a hundred yards or so mixed 2-1 sugar syrup.
I noticed a couple of hundred bees on the feeder yesterday around 2:00PM or so.
I will refill my feeder Thursday and merge one more hive.
But other than that I will put candy boards on mid December and stay out of them until mid February.

[Eric Bosworth]

This morning it was 10 degrees at my house. My hives were light in the fall and I set my hives up with as much dry sugar as I could give them. They still have room to cluster and they have food available. I am just hoping for the best at this point. My bees need to make it until April before they are going to be able to forage again. I wish I could plan for them being able to forage in February or March.

[Steel Tiger]

 It's been cold up here for a week. Luckily, two of the hives have a deep and two mediums full of capped honey. It should last the winter.
The third hive has a deep with only half drawn frames and a medium that may be half full as well. That's the hive with the aggressive bees that are out in the woods. If they survive, great. If not, I'm not too worried about it. I'll check on them in Jan or Feb, if we have a warm day, and add sugar if needed.

[jacksjack]

There'll be warm days in Dec, Jan, Feb, ect. From my reading, in our area it's usually the tale end of winter when they starve out.If your hives are heavy I wouldn't.Probably sealed because of a draft, two, (internet reading)if they fill up the comb they won't have any place to cluster and could possible freeze.  Two reasons, one, you'll break the propolis on the areas they sealed up.



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[johng]

I plan on putting some straight HFCS on a few hives tomorrow. It's supposed to be warmer the next 4-5 days. I'm sure you could do the same with 2to1 sugar water in MS if you have some hives that could use a little more feed. 

[Blacksheep]

Well if you do open the hive tape the seams with duc tape that will stop the drafts>