newbee first winter question

[neillsayers]

I've noticed that my bees are staying clustered on the south side of the hive. Is there any advantage to rotating the hive 180 degrees to cause them to utilize honey stores?
Neill

[iddee]

Only if you want to put them on the cold side so they have to move back to the warm side.

[Jen]

I would keep the entrance east bound to catch the morning sun... as much sun as can hit the entrance into the day ~

[neillsayers]

 Thanks Idee,
Well, yeah, that was kind of what I was thinking. I've read quite a bit about bees starving while leaving honey because they couldn't get to it from where they are clustered.

[iddee]

In Michigan, maybe. Not in Arkansas.

[rwlaw]

 My mentor always said he didn't like to see clusters on one side of the box or the other because they could starve easier when they start brooding up, which is now or soonly. Give them the heft test. If they're lighter than your other hives, put some fondant or a sugar brick on just to be sure.

[Lburou]

Noticed one 5 frame NUC with bees in one end of it this week.  It works for me!  Its one of those things you can't really change.  I reasoned that if they are on the end now, they can move across the box with less chance of being stranded away from the honey while covering brood.  JMO  :-)

[neillsayers]

Thanks Everyone,

I'm sure my bees are fine. I'm worse than a helicopter mom trying to think of all the things that can go wrong. Really appreciate you all.

[rober]

during cold weather I close the bottoms of SBB's & put a 1" piece of blue foam on top of the inner cove. I have had hives starve when there were full frames of honey in the hive because they would not break the cluster. if you have hives that are clustered over empty frames I would consider putting a candy board, sugar block, or try mountain feeding them. we're approaching the critical make it or break part of winter.

[Perry]

My mentor always said he didn't like to see clusters on one side of the box or the other because they could starve easier when they start brooding up, which is now or soonly. Give them the heft test. If they're lighter than your other hives, put some fondant or a sugar brick on just to be sure.

Anything that is doubtful weight wise gets fondant right over the inner cover hole for the very reason rwlaw mentions. Food over the center of the cluster forms sort of a "bridge" (thanks Apis) that allows the bees to move back and forth if needed.

[Riverrat]

I've noticed that my bees are staying clustered on the south side of the hive. Is there any advantage to rotating the hive 180 degrees to cause them to utilize honey stores?
Neill

Try not to second guess the bees.  They don't  read the same books we do and usually know whats best

[neillsayers]

Thanks everyone,

They have a sugar cake over the cluster and are eating it. Just have to see what spring brings.

[riverbee]

neil...........bees are hardier than we think sometimes? i would let them alone and not rotate, they are on the south side for some reason.  we can do all the right things and in extremely cold weather it's a crap shoot trying to figure out whether they will survive or not.

if you have feed above them, great, and the best feed IMHO in cold weather is directly above them, on top of the frames.  good luck!  looking forward to an update on how your bees are doing!

[neillsayers]

Thanks RB and all others,

 :)Today was sunny and 42 with very little wind. Spotting some coming out for elimination flight!