Author Topic: How Cold is to Cold  (Read 17413 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline 40 Acre Bees

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 211
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • Location: Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada
How Cold is to Cold
« on: January 02, 2014, 05:36:03 pm »
Well here we are with the temperature down to about -18 C.    My wife heard that another local bee keeper living  close to us said there is no way the bees could survive these temperatures and moved his hives into the basement (his wife is not to impressed).  We are very scared that we could lose them.  The hives are wrapped well and insulated on the top.  Is there really a point when it gets to cold.

Offline Perry

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 7382
  • Thanked: 390 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Brandt's Bees
  • Location: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2014, 05:42:58 pm »
If your hives were strong, and they have the stores, they'll survive. The hard cold will take out some borderline colonies.
I am betting that all 6 nucs are probably done for in this cold.  :sad:
I would not be moving hives into my basement (LOL, you've seen it) and I like being married anyway.
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
Forum Supporter

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2014, 05:45:48 pm »
bees, in general are pretty cold hardy, and more so than we think and amazing. if you had a robust healthy hive and plenty of stores, don't worry too much about it. we lose them, there is nothing we can do in winter months, it's really all about what we do to get them ready for winter and prepare the hives for winter, wrapping, insulation, ventilation, wind break, etc..  with that said, we do all the right things and we still lose them.  sometimes i will lose bees to 'cold starvation' in extended sub zero temps, where they won't move with feed so close to them. it's just part of beekeeping in a cold climate.
  ;D
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline Riverrat

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2169
  • Thanked: 56 times
  • Location: oxford kansas
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2014, 07:31:06 pm »
Bees are a lot hardier than the books tell us they are. Perry I wouldn't count the nucs out either.
"no man ever stood so tall as one that  stoops to help a child"

Forum Supporter

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Gold Member
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2014, 07:42:30 pm »
-6 F here tonight.. looks like -14 F sunday night.. looks like its going to be a long winter..  I hear other beeks worrying besides myself, so Neither of us are alone 40Acre
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline rcannon

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 423
  • Thanked: 18 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Ft White, Fll
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2014, 08:26:53 pm »
It's going to plummet down to 30 here tonight.  ;)

Offline Jen

  • Platinum Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10175
  • Thanked: 240 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Upper California
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2014, 11:40:12 pm »
I would like to see a title in the spring, even a temporary title for posts called "Who's bees made it in below zero temps!"
There Is Peace In The Queendom

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2014, 11:58:03 pm »
"I would like to see a title in the spring, even a temporary title for posts called "Who's bees made it in below zero temps!"

you start the thread jen! all will chime in even if they didn't have sub zero temps....lol!
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Gold Member
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2014, 12:52:35 am »
I'm going to be impressed if all mine make it for sure!
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline Jen

  • Platinum Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10175
  • Thanked: 240 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Upper California
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2014, 12:01:18 pm »
Good Luck Lazy. I'm pacing in front of my one and only hive ~
There Is Peace In The Queendom

Offline crazy8days

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 217
  • Thanked: 2 times
  • Gender: Male
    • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crees-Bees/264227527049555?ref=hl
  • Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2014, 07:13:42 pm »
I too am worried.  They are saying by Sunday evening/Monday we will dip to -20 with windchill -40.  Praying..
“It's wonderful to me that bees have this simple, age-old thing going on.” -Peter Fonda

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Gold Member
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2014, 07:25:24 pm »
Same here Crazy8.. I was afraid to look at the wind chill..    Wind right now is blowing directly out of the southeast.. unusual, and uncomfortable as its hitting the hives squarely in the front..   Not often the wind blows that way, just figures its when the temps are the nastiest they have been in 20 years.
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline rcannon

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 423
  • Thanked: 18 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Ft White, Fll
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2014, 08:20:29 pm »
I wish all you folks good luck. Please be careful in those temperatures.

Offline Finally Home

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 291
  • Gender: Male
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2014, 09:01:02 pm »
I too am worried.  They are saying by Sunday evening/Monday we will dip to -20 with windchill -40.  Praying..

Same here.  Bout an hour north of you.  Not sounding good at all.

Offline Slowmodem

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1551
  • Thanked: 37 times
  • Gender: Male
    • http://gregsbees.blogspot.com/
  • Location: Ten Mile, TN
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2014, 12:00:48 am »
Here's a point to ponder.   :-k

It's rare you see Canada compared to Mars........

Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline 40 Acre Bees

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 211
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • Location: Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2014, 02:04:39 pm »
Well the temperature is above freezing today..  We went up and took a look at our hives, to remove the snow from the entrances and seen our first Bee poop.  The girls are up flying out of the one hive, but no evidence of any life in the weaker hive.  We are hoping for the best and at least we have some activity.....  hopefully no more cold snaps like we had.

Offline Perry

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 7382
  • Thanked: 390 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Brandt's Bees
  • Location: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #16 on: January 05, 2014, 02:13:19 pm »
R and L:
Get down on your knees and put your ear right up against the sunny side of the hives, you will hear the bees inside. If not, a quick short rap with your knuckles should give you a sudden buzz that can easily be heard.
I checked a few today and the bottom entrances are iced completely closed.
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
Forum Supporter

Offline Slowmodem

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1551
  • Thanked: 37 times
  • Gender: Male
    • http://gregsbees.blogspot.com/
  • Location: Ten Mile, TN
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2014, 06:13:15 pm »
Inquiring minds want to know:  Was Riverbee at the Packer's game today? 
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #18 on: January 05, 2014, 08:41:05 pm »
LOL slow!!!!  WAS NOT at that packers game, but did watch a little of it from my warm comfy home. i am not that foolish, and besides i don't care for football anyway!

the stadium was sold out, and sorry to see they lost to the california boys..... :D , can't imagine how these guys play in this kind of weather? 
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline blueblood

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1768
  • Thanked: 39 times
  • Gender: Male
    • https://www.facebook.com/scottshoneyandlipbalms
  • Location: Central Indiana, USA
Re: How Cold is to Cold
« Reply #19 on: January 05, 2014, 09:02:45 pm »
This is why I like feral bees.  I believe they have adapted to the temps in my region over the years and do much better than pure Italian breed shipped up from warmer climates in the south.  Just my opinion....hmmm, and maybe some common sense... ;)