Hot enough for you?

[Kris^]

So -- we're beginning what they say is going to be the hottest year on record.  Any of the more experienced beekeeper here have any comments on how the colonies might make it through this "winter," and what we might do to help them along?  The hives are starting to feel lighter already . . .

-- Kris

[Finsky]

Hives like warm. They are not penguins.

[mat]

This weather is really crasy. Tomorrow its gonna be 60s. Do you think its ok to have a pick inside the hives?
Mat

[Cindi]

In my opinion, 60 degrees F is pretty warm, that is almost what I would call t-shirt weather.  The bees fly at many degrees below this and many foragers would be out of the hive checking things out.  My thoughts.  Great day. Cindi

[Kathyp]

i am freezing my back side off.  yesterday it snowed like crazy.  by next week we are supposed to take a 20 to 25 degree dive.  odd are, after that, we'll have an ice storm.  that's the pattern.........so, where exactly is that global warming??   :evil:

[Cindi]

Kathy, I doubt if the global warming exists up in my neck of this woods.  January is always our cold month here.  If it is gonna get cold, certainly it comes now.  But, come February 14 (my 26 wedding anniversary), it is really nice. 

I have actually now seen the grass in my yard starting to grow like crazy.  I know that by March 15 (my husband's birthday), that I have to mow our grass, it is long and lush by that time.  I can't wait to start mowing the grass.  I love the smell of it, reminds me of whan I used to sit by my Gramma's cow, Daisy, and breath her incredible cow breath when she was eating the grass from the field.  I wish I had a cow.  My grandson wishes we had a cow.  Maybe we will get a cow.  A Jersey.  The big beautiful brown Jersey cow eyes.  Reminds me of our old Candy girl cow, the one with cowpox!!!!  Ooops, in the wrong forum?  Great day.  Cindi

[ian davison]

Hi all

In The Uk the Autunm was very prolonged and mild and the bees have been very active. Our Winter has only amounted to a week of frost and a week of fog. It has been wet but on some good sunny days its been very warm. (10-12c) average. When doing my Oxalic treatment the other day I hefted all the hives and already suspecting some would be short got in some bakers Fondant. A number where very light.

I find candy is a good and safe form of emergency feed that the bees can take advantage of and a very cheap form of insurance. I do find it very handy with overwintering 5 frame nucs, with young queens layng late into the Autunm some nucs have as many bees as larger hives and quite easily run short of food. I find that if the candy is placed on the hive before they run short that the bees tend to use it first and if the weather turns cold they then have plenty of normal stores around the cluster and little need to collect water.


Regards Ian

[mat]

Ian, how do you make the candy?

[ian davison]

Hi Mat

I don't normaly make it but buy in Bakers Fondant it saves all the mess and is only a little more expensive than sugar. It's also about half the price that our main beekeeping  suppliers sell thier fondant for. If you want me to find the mix I can post it.


Regards Ian

[Kirk-o]

I guess with the weather the way it is you have to roll with the punch's
kirko