Advice in the Southeast

[Matt J]

Checked my hives yesterday for one reason.  I went out the day before and saw a massive amount of bees doing orientation flights.  So many that, with the entrance reducers on they were really backed up getting in the door.  Almost all of the foragers were coming back with bright yellow pollen.  I have heard the Tulip Poplars, and the trees are blooming.  So, that being said, I decided I needed to check on stores, since I believed that there was a big brood hatch out.  More bees equals, more mouths to feed.  And sure enough, both hives are getting low.  One hive has maybe 5 frames of stores left, and the other is down to just a couple.  Both hives are in the upper boxes.  Both had good brood patterns with a fair amount of capped brood.  Almost everywhere the queens could lay, there were eggs, except the bottom.  Those were basically empty.  Also, they were making drones.  And a high population of bees. 

So, today, I am going to put some 1:1 on them.  They are breaking cluster each day with highs in the 50-60s, and some days in the 70s.  But I am going to wait to reverse boxes, because nights get into the 30s-40s.  If they won't take some syrup, I will give them some dry sugar Mountain Camp style.  Am I correct in my thinking?  Also, I don't want to feed massive amounts, just enough to get by.  I'm thinking Mason Jars with a few holes in each, not top feeders with gallons.  Is this also a good way to go? 

[bwallace23350]

My brother lives in Birmingham and yall are about two weeks behind us always. I already have some nectar producing  plants blooming right now. I would not feed more than was necessary from what I have been told by others but do not have experience on it.

[Matt J]

My brother lives in Birmingham and yall are about two weeks behind us always. I already have some nectar producing  plants blooming right now. I would not feed more than was necessary from what I have been told by others but do not have experience on it.

I saw open cells of nectar yesterday. Amazing after the fall drought we had.


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[bwallace23350]

Yeah my bees are getting some nectar so I am on the fence about continued feeding. We have tones of hinbit, which they don't like but will use and a bunch of other flowers I don't know the name of. I would say we are two weeks out on clover by the road and up next to tin farm buildings and others around my hives.

[tjc1]

Matt, sounds like you might be entering swarm prep territory.

[Matt J]

Matt, sounds like you might be entering swarm prep territory.

I thought that too, but I think it's a little early. They have nothing to eat up before they leave right now. I checked for Queen cells and found nothing. I do think that once the open brood that's in there now hatches out, I need to keep an eye on it. I have gone into spring mode, and will check them on that schedule from here on out, even if it's just lifting the box to look for queens.


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[Joe D]

I would give them a little of the sugar syrup, would rather give some that them starve.  I did that once.  If you have a super with some comb, you might put it close, incase you miss a swarm.

Good luck to you and your bees,

Joe D

[sc-bee]

  I have heard the Tulip Poplars, and the trees are blooming. 

Tulip Poplar blooming??? I would think a bit early for Poplar? Popular here in SC is in May...

[bwallace23350]

  I have heard the Tulip Poplars, and the trees are blooming. 

Tulip Poplar blooming??? I would think a bit early for Poplar? Popular here in SC is in May...

Normally I think we would be around April but we are about 5 weeks ahead here in Alabama because well we had no winter.

[Matt J]

  I have heard the Tulip Poplars, and the trees are blooming. 

Tulip Poplar blooming??? I would think a bit early for Poplar? Popular here in SC is in May...

Yeah. I thought the same when I heard that. I haven't seen any.


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[GSF]

Hey Matt, I'm south of you and north of bw. There's no Tulip poplars blooming. Probably Japanese magnolia. The leather leafs are blooming. It could be that the open nectar cells you saw were actually uncapped honey. If you were looking a large area then it's most likely nectar like you said. Lots of green stuff around here.

[Matt J]

Hey Matt, I'm south of you and north of bw. There's no Tulip poplars blooming. Probably Japanese magnolia. The leather leafs are blooming. It could be that the open nectar cells you saw were actually uncapped honey. If you were looking a large area then it's most likely nectar like you said. Lots of green stuff around here.

Yeah. I thought it was a little early.  But get this!  Picked up my daughter from school yesterday, and when she came out, she had a bunch of dandelions in her hand she had picked for her momma for Valentine's Day.  I quickly said, "where did you get those!?!?"  She said, "on the playground."  She was shocked how happy I was to see them. Then I told her that her momma was gonna love her flowers, but in the future she should leave them for the bees!  Haha!  It's so close!


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[Van, Arkansas, USA]

Matt, do you have any drones flying. 

[Matt J]

Matt, do you have any drones flying.

Haven't seen any leaving the hive, but I saw a few on the comb, and a good bit of capped drones.


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