Not sure how to interpret this

[Mklangelo]

I have the three hives and with a brutal winter up here in Southeast Wisconsin, the girls have been basically buried in snow since October.

We had a upper 40's F yesterday and I took a quick peek.  Living bees in all three hives.  One hive had taken their dead and put them all on top of the inner cover, at least I thought so.  The reducers on all three were frozen closed so today I shoveled the entrances clear and freed the openings.

I had a 10' long screwdriver and was using it at the entrance to clear away ice.  I was able to scoop away enough dead bees to fill a 2.5 pound coffee can from all three hives (grand total).  I noticed a bad smell, kind of a sour odor.  I'm going to attribute this to no ventilation and dead bees littering the hive.

The entrances are open now, there is the needed ventilation.  I made some 2/1 syrup and placed in in boardman feeders since that's all I have. 

Was that a waste of time?  Will they take it in this weather? 

Thanks in advance!

[beekeeperookie]

I would like to know one thing where do you buy a 10' screwdriver :?

[BMAC]

Probably easier to cut a screwdriver in half and weld in the extra steel rather than to buy one that long. :-D

[bassman1977]

Was that a waste of time?  Will they take it in this weather?

There was a recent post on this.  If memory serves, they won't take it unless the syrup is 90 degrees F.  You may have been better served making fondant.  The stuff I made was from Robo's site (again if memory serves) it just called for water, vinegar, and sugar.  What he has listed makes a lot.  I used a 10 lbs bag and it made plenty for three hives.

[bassman1977]

I noticed a bad smell, kind of a sour odor.  I'm going to attribute this to no ventilation and dead bees littering the hive.

While I'm thinking of it...I wouldn't worry about this too much.  If your bees are alive, then don't worry about it.  Nothing much you can do right now anyway.  I wonder, do you have Goldenrod up your way?  If so, I would bet that is the smell you are smelling.  That mixed with not much ventilation and decaying bodies.

In the future, after a snow storm, you may want to go down and clear the entrances at the very least.

[Frantz]

I agree about the sugar and the temp. Here is Robo's site for the emergency sugar boards. I have made a few of these this winter and they have worked great. I only used about 10 lbs per board on this instead of the 25 lbs the recipe calls for.
Good luck
F
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/

[beekeeperookie]

i made the same stuff and did the 25lb size and i had enough to last all this past winter, The extra stuff i put in the freezer.  They clean this stuff up

[Mklangelo]

I would like to know one thing where do you buy a 10' screwdriver :?

Craftsman makes em'.  They really have some serious torque...lol

[Scadsobees]

I would like to know one thing where do you buy a 10' screwdriver :?

I keep getting emails about where I can get one...oh wait, I just checked, and that isn't a screwdriver!!! :shock:

They won't take 2/1 syrup for a while.  Shoot, I've had that with honeybeehealthy on my observation hive where it is 60-70 F all winter and they haven't touched it.

As far as the sour smell...often when bees die, they...uh...relax a bit and defecate.  This could be what you smell.  The dead bees probably smell bad.  Also , if they have nosema or dysentary, this also could be happening in the hive.  But you'll have to wait for some better weather before checking.

If they were buzzing, however, they are still alive, and that is a great sign at this time of year.  Yes, in the future, if there is a warmer day it is good to make sure they are open so they can go on cleansing runs if warm enough. 

Rick

[Jerrymac]

I would like to know one thing where do you buy a 10' screwdriver :?

Craftsman makes em'.  They really have some serious torque...lol

A ten foot screwdriver?

[Mklangelo]

I would like to know one thing where do you buy a 10' screwdriver :?

Craftsman makes em'.  They really have some serious torque...lol

A ten foot screwdriver?

oops, what a difference a comma makes.  10"   lol

[beekeeperookie]

I got a laugh out of it

[johnnybigfish]

Golly,....I'd hate to see the screws..It'd take a few people just to put a screw in!
your friend,
john

[Mklangelo]

I agree about the sugar and the temp. Here is Robo's site for the emergency sugar boards. I have made a few of these this winter and they have worked great. I only used about 10 lbs per board on this instead of the 25 lbs the recipe calls for.
Good luck
F
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/

I'm curious what the vinegar is doing for you on this recipe?

[KONASDAD]

I use Robos recipe as well. I made a one qrt to 12 lbs version for five hives and I still have about half left. They are consuming this week as weather has lightned up a bit. I keep the vinegar in recipe, seems to prevent any mold from forming on the sugar blocks. I also place the syrup in chicken pot pie pans and that a perfect size for my set up and lids. Just real covenient. I heat to ~255F on candy thermometer. It will continue to get hotter after you remove from heat, so I stop at 255F or it becomes rock candy. Bees ate that too it should be noted.

[Mklangelo]

I use Robos recipe as well. I made a one qrt to 12 lbs version for five hives and I still have about half left. They are consuming this week as weather has lightned up a bit. I keep the vinegar in recipe, seems to prevent any mold from forming on the sugar blocks. I also place the syrup in chicken pot pie pans and that a perfect size for my set up and lids. Just real covenient. I heat to ~255F on candy thermometer. It will continue to get hotter after you remove from heat, so I stop at 255F or it becomes rock candy. Bees ate that too it should be noted.

sounds good. Maybe my candy thermometer is off, I dropped it.  I couldn't get it past 240F.  I basically quartered that recipe and poured it into a couple of flat, 13" X 10" baking dishes and I'll cut it up in squares to get it out.  I hope it won't be as hard as a rock.

[Frantz]

Chances are you will not cut this stuff once it has set up. Let me know if you do though.. The vinegar is to keep the sugar from going rancid. It will without the vinegar. Your bees will end up worse than they are now. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Frantz
PS what elevation are you? That will make a difference on how hot you need to get the sugar and what temp you should pull it off. Just keep that in mind

[bassman1977]

The vinegar is to keep the sugar from going rancid. It will without the vinegar.

There's another unsolved mystery, solved.

[beekeeperookie]

yeah i dont see you cutting this stuff aleast i couldnt.  I poured my in little mini loaf pans and let them set then when i wasnt using them put them in the freezer

[KONASDAD]

yeah i dont see you cutting this stuff aleast i couldnt.  I poured my in little mini loaf pans and let them set then when i wasnt using them put them in the freezer

Thats why I converted to disposable chicken pot pie pans from dollar store. Just rip it off of sugar board when neeeded.