|
Post by James on Jan 16, 2018 10:58:45 GMT -5
27 degrees and clear sunny skies today. There will be no bees flying. When its cold the bees just cluster in the hive and vibrate a bit to try to stay warm. All we can do as beekeepers is hope they are successful. We will find out the first day we get temperatures up to 51 degrees. The bees will come out for a flight when the temperature hits 51 degrees.
|
|
|
Post by ahntjudy on Jan 21, 2018 11:43:52 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Jan 21, 2018 15:21:25 GMT -5
ahntjudy, I don't understand how two young boys can have so much meanness in their heart. This is so sad.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jan 21, 2018 15:59:04 GMT -5
Those two do have such meanness and then the last part got to me ... the bee keepers didn't have insurance and tens of thousand of $$ donations have come in to help them rebuild. The goodness of peoples hearts outweighs the badness and this is what I need to hold on to. In the end, Love overcomes.
|
|
|
Post by martywny on Jan 21, 2018 17:19:46 GMT -5
My girls are hanging in there and were getting some air time last week when the temp was pushing 60. I fed them and will hopefully be able to open the hive again soon for another look.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Jan 21, 2018 17:59:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by martywny on Jan 22, 2018 6:12:03 GMT -5
binnylou, I started with just one nuc last year and hope to add a second this spring.
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Jan 22, 2018 6:31:21 GMT -5
This story of recent bee vandalism is sickening... Glad they caught the culprits, it is sad.
|
|
|
Post by James on Jan 24, 2018 12:40:37 GMT -5
In this high mountain desert wintering bees is an iffy proposition. Most years I end up ordering new packages in the Spring. I have had years when most of the bees made it through winter. One will not know till April.
|
|
|
Post by James on Jan 24, 2018 12:47:57 GMT -5
When the temperature is cold the bees cluster on some combs with honey in them. They eat honey and vibrate a bit to generate enough heat to survive. If it remains cold for ten days the bees cannot move onto new honey and will starve to death. Come spring you will find your cluster of dead bees surrounded by honey. On the other hand if it will warm up a bit every 5 days, the bees can move onto new honey and will usually make it through winter.
|
|
|
Post by James on Jan 24, 2018 12:52:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by James on Mar 10, 2018 13:44:18 GMT -5
I just went out to check my hives. Not one bee made it through winter. All dead.
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 10, 2018 19:06:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by martywny on Mar 12, 2018 6:14:51 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 12, 2018 7:58:38 GMT -5
Wouldn't it BEE favorable to not disturb the bees?
|
|