CLUSTER IN WINTER?

GLOCK · January 20, 2012, 09:11:47 AM

Will bee's cluster in the winter if they are queenless?
And will they make it till spring?
Thankyou.

Vance G · January 20, 2012, 01:49:52 PM

Yes they will to both but it is a dispirited bunch. their only remaining purpose will be to last long enough to send out some drones to carry on the bloodline. One is best doing a newspaper combine as soon as you find them.

Finski · January 20, 2012, 02:44:21 PM

.
A queenles hive over winter normally.

GLOCK · January 20, 2012, 06:24:03 PM

I was just wondering . It's something i never saw on here now i know.
I only have 3 hives but they where good going in to winter and i was up listening to my hives today and there humming softly and happly in 20f temps. so hopefully I'll have 3 hives come spring.

Vance G · January 20, 2012, 10:51:07 PM

We have a day or two of forties forcast for coming week, I will have to stay away so i don't harass my bees. Nothing more to be done anyway, they all have chow.

backyard warrior · January 21, 2012, 06:39:36 AM

go thinking vance u dont want to mess with em leave them alone i dont open my hives till spring temps and i just open outer cover to check stores Chris

Michael Bach · January 22, 2012, 06:35:00 PM

My experience is when bees perish in winter and they are queenless the clusters are much looser and sometimes in a few small clusters in the hive.

Finski · January 23, 2012, 01:05:18 PM

Quote from: Michael Bach on January 22, 2012, 06:35:00 PM
My experience is when bees perish in winter and they are queenless the clusters are much looser and sometimes in a few small clusters in the hive.

That is one good sign of queenless. They have not brood and so they need not tight cluster to keep the high temp in core. After frost night bees have a very tight cluster and it is a sign that they protect brood.