Ok what kind of hive do you have again and do you have the entrance reducer in? Also in which direction is the opening facing. If possible can you stack straw bales around it and on top of it to help it stay warm?
On another note I have found a local source to buy 3 hives worth of bees in the spring.
Awesome, local hives are your best bet I hear.
Happy Chooks, how are your hives?
I made my own fondant 2 weeks ago and we fed the hives, so proud of me, I can't hardly stand myself!