Today it was warm enough...sort of...to get into the hive just to add some fondant. I'm glad I did because it was all gone!
While I was there, I cleaned out the bottom of the hive of dead bees and I think there were about two cups of dead bees. I was pretty worried about that but when I opened the hive I saw many bees and the humming was loud. Yeah! There are still bees in there surviving. I just hope the rest of the winter...the one that hasn't officially started you understand...is less cold than the last month!
I do hope that we have a January thaw so that I can replenish the fondant then so I don't starve these girls and can go into the spring with a somewhat reduced but healthy hive.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Should I or shouldn't I open the hive to check on bees in frigid weather
It's been so cold the I'm worried about my bees freezing...or starving. This morning I also worried about smothering because we got about 14 inches of snow last night and from my living room window, it looked like the front entrance was covered with snow. So I rushed out and began shoveling.
Once I got near the hive, I saw that the snow hadn't reached the entrance because the plywood "roof" overhangs enough to provide a little shelter from the rain...and snow too I guess. And I saw a few dead bees at the entrance which told me I still have bees in there. Seeing some dead outside is normal I've learned. Seems like they could easily freeze just leaving the hive to go to the bathroom.
I have resisted opening the hive even to take a look because I'm afraid that I'll kill them by making them freeze. I do want to replenish their fondant though because I don't want them to starve if there's not enough store of honey in the bottom deep hive. Later this week, we are supposed to have a balmy 40 degree day and that's the day I'll open the hive and add fondant. Who knows when I'll get another opportunity? It's been a cold late fall...right...it's not even winter yet!
What I'll do with the fondant is scoop some out and put it on a paper plate with a small hole at the bottom. The fondant has the consistency of taffy so it'll stay in place. Then the plate will be placed on top of the top hive, under the cover and the insulation added under it. I'll do this very fast to minimize the cold air going into the hive.
I sort of hate to remove the snow at the top of the "roof" because it provides extra insulation. In fact, I like having the snow around it for the same reason. But something tells me there will be plenty of snow to replace what I brush off from the top.
Once I got near the hive, I saw that the snow hadn't reached the entrance because the plywood "roof" overhangs enough to provide a little shelter from the rain...and snow too I guess. And I saw a few dead bees at the entrance which told me I still have bees in there. Seeing some dead outside is normal I've learned. Seems like they could easily freeze just leaving the hive to go to the bathroom.
I have resisted opening the hive even to take a look because I'm afraid that I'll kill them by making them freeze. I do want to replenish their fondant though because I don't want them to starve if there's not enough store of honey in the bottom deep hive. Later this week, we are supposed to have a balmy 40 degree day and that's the day I'll open the hive and add fondant. Who knows when I'll get another opportunity? It's been a cold late fall...right...it's not even winter yet!
What I'll do with the fondant is scoop some out and put it on a paper plate with a small hole at the bottom. The fondant has the consistency of taffy so it'll stay in place. Then the plate will be placed on top of the top hive, under the cover and the insulation added under it. I'll do this very fast to minimize the cold air going into the hive.
I sort of hate to remove the snow at the top of the "roof" because it provides extra insulation. In fact, I like having the snow around it for the same reason. But something tells me there will be plenty of snow to replace what I brush off from the top.
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