The Honey Factory

[5Australorpasaures]

No, -40⁰F I had in 2023 and -35⁰F I had in 2024 are cold.

We don't get that cold here, teens and an occasional 5 below. Even so I still wrap with 1" foam insulation with 2" foam under the top cover over the 2 1/4" deep rim for moisture absorbing sugar blocks.

 

[jerryse]

52 today. Bees were flying. Cold temps coming.

 

[R2elk]

52 today. Bees were flying. Cold temps coming.

No bees flying here. Snowing and in the teens here.

 

[Sally PB]

We had a high of 40 today, and that's it for the foreseeable future. Single digits here on Monday and Tuesday. Stay warm, bees...

 

[5Australorpasaures]

52 today. Bees were flying. Cold temps coming.

42 degrees F, a few took flight, next wk night temps 5 degrees, boxes still heavy, took a quick look under the cover and they haven't started on the blocks, good sign but 6-8 wks to go yet. Fingers crossed.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Yay, calling for a high of 57 F This Monday. Poppin' the tops and putting pollen patties on top of the frames, sugar blocks looked good at last chk so don't have to give them more, hopefully a mild March so I can do Varroa treatment and get the crew out on the Maple as it is the first to burst. Last chk about a wk ago showed strong numbers of bees, but we know anything could happen.

 

[jerryse]

50s yesterday and bees were out in force. Lots of bees in front of all 3 hives orienting.

 

[Sally PB]

Looking forward to a day warm enough to open the remaining hive.

 

[Sally PB]

Didn't need to wait. It's warm enough right now. I saw them flying around the front of the hive.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I have blocks made up with pollen patties in the middle for back up but with the weight of the hives going into February I'm going to try and push the Queen a little with direct patties on the frames around the middle of the month temps permitting, get her started on the spring bees. It's getting close to the end for the winter bees who can live for about 3 months making heat instead of the 21 days for the working crew. Going to go with Formic Pro for spring Varroa, supposedly food safe but I may just leave warm weather honey for the bees as I like the fall flow more. I used Apivar in the fall, trying keep the little parasites weak with different types of treatment.