We had over 40 degree weather today so it was a great day to get out there and shovel off the roof...which I did. At least as much as I could reach until my energy ran out.
I also shoveled out the truck which had been snowed in now for weeks. But I'd like to get it started and first I needed to be able to get into it.
In checking on the bees, I was pleasantly surprised to see bees flying around!
In one hive. I wasn't sure if I had any left with the bitter cold we've had. But I did insulate them well and left them with food so I do hope they can make it just a few more months until spring. I will purchase pollen patties and I also have some of the leftover honey from last fall's extractions. I've frozen it and once I can get into the hive, I'll try slipping it in there. If they survived this long, though, I must have left them enough honey to last them.
I've been doing some reading and am not sure I want to feed them with sugar syrup any more. The article I read was promoting natural habitat ...making sure the bees have enough available pollen and making sure I have the right bees that will survive the climate they are in. That way, they will get stronger and hopefully birth new, strong bees by feeding them their natural food (pollen). Giving them imitation food, although they eat it and like it, doesn't help them build themselves up and acclimate to the environment. Or...something along those lines.
The other hive has animals, probably mice, living in it. Whatever it was knocked out the entrance reducer which I had taped in place. That's the hive that has no more bees so I'm not worried about it but as soon as possible, I need to clean it out. I will add bees in that hive in April or May.
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