Finsky - what are you doing awake in the middle of the night??? .
I am on another side of globe. Here is now morning 7:42
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I was thinking about taking the top boxes off, especially if I put this feeder box on, .
It is not time to feed. It will be fermented. Let them be in peace and give them insulation on the top and on sides.
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I'll go ahead and move any frames with stores into the bottom box..
Change boxes.
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February is like December and March is finally moving back toward an occasional 40's day..
Bees need for cleansing flight bright sunrise and one day whet temperature rises to 41F.
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I lost 2 of 3 hives last winter to starvation (head first into cells) and each hive had 2 full deeps of stores, but I didn't feed them in the spring (didn't know I should). .
Get insulated brood boxes. It saves your bees. I have had 1,3 inch wooden boxes and they need 50% more winter food than insulated. It is much.
I have normally 15 hives. I loose normally 0,5 hives per winter, but none for starvation. If I feed too much, fermented food will run them away from hive to the snow. Their stomach , you know.
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I'll put the 'feeder boxes' on now, .
After my 40 years experience, it is a mistake.
* Every year I check the food after cleansing flight. I can weight the hive with one hand and if it is light, I give food.
* I take inner roof away and I look if there seems capped cells, if not, I give food.
* During spring I even food frames between hives.
* I give sugar 40 lbs per hive at September and it is enought to May.
I leave no honey for winter. Our sugar price is 1$ and honey 6$. No idea to feed with honey.