45 degree days and bees are out

 Yesterday was a beautifully warm day so the bees came out and did a lot of pooping.  I have lots of yellow snow around the hive.  I took a quick video because there was a bee in my hair and around me so I had to retreat further away.

After giving them pollen and sugar early in the month, I learned I shouldn't have done that.  No pollen until late March, if it's needed.  I could give sugar now but I left it alone since adding the pollen sugar mix because it's been way too cold to open the hive again.  Even yesterday I thought it would be better to just leave them alone and let them enjoy the weather without disturbing them.

I'm so happy to see them after wintering over.  Usually they don't survive and I wait for a Nuc to arrive in early May.  If I still have them and nothing happens between now and then, I hope to be able to start a Nuc of my own in April or end of March so that I can expand my one hive to two.

Fingers crossed.

Feb. 4, 2021 - Added bee pollen mixed with sugar

There were different thoughts on when to add the bee pollen and sugar mixture to the hives.  I've not done this before but it is supposed to help the bees get started on creating brood early and to just give them more nutrients beyond the honey I left in the hive this winter.

Two people were okay with my approach which included adding it now, versus one person saying I should wait until end of March.  That's quite a time difference but I moved ahead and added it today. Probably about two cups worth.  I didn't think it would hurt.

My approach was to add an empty super to the top, lay a sheet of newspaper over the frames in the super below and then add the pollen mixture to that.  I made sure the top box had an air hole drilled to give them another  exit and to vent moisture.

I should have ten a picture but I was too busy running!

I was told that I might be see bees at the top of the hive and boy were there a lot of bees there.  They attacked me! I was not prepared for that and didn't suit up thinking I'd not really see a lot of bees .  I was wrong.  I bolted to the house with bees following me.  Now there are a bunch of dead bees as a result.  Makes me feel bad.  But I do hope they enjoy their pollen and sugar treat. Those that are left, that is.

I have a lot of bees in that hive.  I was shocked by that since I haven't kept bees through the winter for quite a long time.  I was worried about the below zero cold snap we had for several nights and very low day temps but they clearly survived that, so I'm hopeful they make it to spring.

In the spring, I hope to split the hive and maybe encourage them making a queen instead of me buying one.  First things first.