Winter Bee Keeping

[bwallace23350]

Is there anything I should be doing right now for my bees or just let them be?

[Psparr]

Just lifting the end of the hive to check their weight. If they feel very light, you'll need to do emergency feeding.

[bwallace23350]

Thanks will do that tomorrow

[GSF]

bw, can you believe we're going to be in the mid 70's toward the end of the week?

[mtnb]

bw, can you believe we're going to be in the mid 70's toward the end of the week?

Pft, what.ever! lol We had a still, sunny morning the other day and I went out and poked a long stick into my upper entrances at my Mt. Camp sugar. I noticed two of them felt crumbly, and well, not hard like the others, so I quickly opened the lid a slid a new sugar block in. Sure enough, there were bees up there. They had eaten a big hole into the mt. camp. It was soooo nice to get a peek at them! I didn't dare open them last winter. lol bwallace, I can't just let them bee. Lol I have a stethoscope with just the tube ends that I can insert into an entrance to hear them and I have that heat sensor gun thing where I can locate the cluster within the hive. lol

[bwallace23350]

I know GSF. I bet if I check my bees then they will be out in full force looking to eat but nothing is blooming. Crazy weather right now but I am getting concerned about chill hours and my fruit trees.

[KeyLargoBees]

So Yvonne....if I told you i was pulling the last of the late fall honey supers on some slow to cap hives on Monday weather permitting in prep for the spring which is pretty much happening now....would you hate me?

[mtnb]

Of course not, Jeff. But I'd be jealous as hell. 

[Joe D]

We have had over 2 weeks of 70's and a couple of 80 degree days.  Supposed to get colder this week, 2 or 3 nights in the 30's.  Down here it's time to start feeding heavy so they will build up and be ready for spring.

Good luck to you and your bees,

Joe D

[bwallace23350]

I have seen some of my bees on some maiden flights. Exciting stuff. I am 100% sure that one of my hives survived and it was what I thought was the weaker of my two hives. So my question is what do I need to do now to get ready for the spring. The faux winter we have had already has some of the wild flowers blooming and a pear tree of mine is starting to bloom out. We are not supposed to have freezing weather at least for the next two weeks. I am ready for a good year of bees.

[GSF]

Next semi warm spell I'd give them some sugar water and vitamins.

[bwallace23350]

Thanks GSF. So next warm spell will be in about 5 days.

[bwallace23350]

Also what types of vitamins are you talking about?

[GSF]

I add vitamins and electrolytes plus from the feed store, made by agri labs.

[bwallace23350]

THanks. I am going to feed come Wednesday