Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Davepeg on March 03, 2014, 08:52:55 am
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I'm in Rockland County NY - still in the 30's Started the winter with three hives - lost one (it was small going into the winter). One hive seems to be doing fine. One hive the bees are all gathered on the top of the frames (med box) and under the inner cover. I did put a pollen oak there about a week ago, had previously added fine sugar which they took. Should I feeding them more sugar?
Our temps will be in the 40's (daytime) end of week. Trees are in bud but nothing will be available for a few weeks.
Thoughts?
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It is too cold to pull frames yet. You could check honey stores by sticking your hive tool in between frames to see if you can gouge a little honey out. If you find honey, the bees are OK for a short while until you have a warm day so you can better inspect. If you find no honey or want to add insurance. lay a newspaper on top of the bees on the top bars and spray it damp with water. Slowly pour a thin layer of granular sugar that will fit under your inner cover or add a feeder rim or your shallowest super to make room. Sugar on top of the inner cover is not reliable under the best conditions and worthless in subfreezing conditions.
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Ok thank you. Guess I'll be giving them some sugar for the next few days - sure wish this weather would warm up!
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Dry sugar only. It's too cold for syrup. Can you tell by lafting the back of the hive if there's any weight of stores left?
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Interestingly natures nectar advises pollen patties and feeding soon. I was reading their blog and they suggested starting that this week.
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I was told I could start feeding the pollen patties 6 weeks ahead of the nectar flow. Think I'm ok with the timing.