Just a quick note to remind everyone of the frost danger in our hives. With this severe cold weather event the moisture from the bees’ respiration is freezing on the bottom of the inner covers. On Sunday the temperature is forecast to be in the 40’s, and that frost will melt and drip on to the bees. That is fatal.
My suggestion is to check your hives on Saturday and scrape the frost from the inner covers. If you have a spare cover, put that on while you’re scraping the frost, or else move quickly. The bees can survive the 15 seconds or so it should take with the cover off better than they can survive dripping water when it’s cold out. You can leave a little frost in the hive because the bees require moisture to thin honey and dissolve sugar in order to consume them. But scrape out what you can in short order and get the cover back on. Don’t trust that your well ventilated hive doesn’t have moisture. Err on the side of caution. And while you’re at it, add some sugar and a pollen patty (or half patty). We’re entering the period when the queens will start laying eggs to replace winter losses and begin the colony build up. Well, the sturgeon spearers got their ice again, as usual. I hope this weekend’s rain doesn’t muck it up too bad for them. Stay safe. Gerard
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ECWBA NewsletterSince 2009 Archives
March 2019
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