Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: 40 Acre Bees on January 02, 2014, 05:36:03 pm
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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.
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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.
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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
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Bees are a lot hardier than the books tell us they are. Perry I wouldn't count the nucs out either.
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-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
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It's going to plummet down to 30 here tonight. ;)
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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!"
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"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!
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I'm going to be impressed if all mine make it for sure!
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Good Luck Lazy. I'm pacing in front of my one and only hive ~
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I too am worried. They are saying by Sunday evening/Monday we will dip to -20 with windchill -40. Praying..
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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.
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I wish all you folks good luck. Please be careful in those temperatures.
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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.
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Here's a point to ponder. :-k
It's rare you see Canada compared to Mars........
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wxforum.net%2Findex.php%3Faction%3Ddlattach%3Btopic%3D21232.0%3Battach%3D11776%3Bimage&hash=0eda451cc395b42ac1b0171a83b45a952e505f10)
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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.
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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.
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Inquiring minds want to know: Was Riverbee at the Packer's game today?
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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?
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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... ;)
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Last winter we had about a week of -30C and lots of -20 days. My bees did fine and I did not hear of anyone else suffering abnormal winter losses.
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It is supposed to get down to 9 here tonight. I realize that for some of you that might be a heat wave this time of year, but I am still concered about my girls. It has been suggested that I put blankets over the hives and I plan to do that. I am wondering if it would help to place a heating element such as one used for reptiles (no light) under the screened bottom board to provide some source of additional heat?
Or do I just need to let Mother Nature and the bees work it out?
Thanks,
Dan
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I've never heard of putting blankets over hives. Let Mother Nature do her thing. ;)
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No heat. If it gets to 43 or higher, they will move outside and freeze.
Perry, you aren't in Alabama. You prepared your hives better in the fall. A blanket, or anything for insulation, just for the days it is at record cold. Within 48 hours, the temps will be back to normal. 9 in Al. is like 80 below for you.
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Yea, I would just cover them tonight and remove the blanket lat tomorrow morning once temps got back to something reasonable, say mid 20's. Clear on the heat. I did not think about them taking that as a signal to take flight. Thanks Iddee.
Dan
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This is crazy..... +11 degrees Celsius yesterday, heavy rains -18 tonight with heavy snow squalls, really can't be good for the girls.... We are really worried about our one hive. My wife tried what Perry said - ear to the side and a few good raps on the side. Not a buzz to be heard. If we lose a hive our first year we are both going to be pretty devastated, as we have tried our best to do what was right for them since day one. Only time will tell now.
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Keep in mind that there will be times where we do everything "perfectly", and it will not work out like we planned. It is after all Nature we are dealing with, and sometimes it can be unfair.
I know you two have done most everything you could, and sometimes that's all we can do.
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I tried knocking on all my hives a few weeks ago and never heard a sound. When the temps came up a little all were out stretching their wings??? Not sure why they didn't answer when I knocked unless there's a secret knock :-\ :-\
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I tried knocking on all my hives a few weeks ago and never heard a sound. When the temps came up a little all were out stretching their wings??? Not sure why they didn't answer when I knocked unless there's a secret knock :-\ :-\
My experience, too.
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When all else fails, use a stethoscope...............or call me! :o :o :o :laugh:
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi664.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv1%2FPerryBee%2FTheDr007-1.jpg&hash=94a134f0b44b1064a8d417e796502f02f0f3740d) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/PerryBee/media/TheDr007-1.jpg.html)
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I was gonna take a funny Picture... but... as She took the picture, the THOUGHT of Perry, with a stethoscope, and rubber gloves came to mind...
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs15.postimg.cc%2Fm4boztzo7%2FDSCF0008.jpg&hash=5ce91cdb3314cc46f531e7e64e416391e09c59e2) (http://postimg.cc/image/m4boztzo7/)
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I was gonna take a funny Picture... but... as She took the picture, the THOUGHT of Perry, with a stethoscope, and rubber gloves came to mind...
I've got that exact cap! I wear it everywhere. ;)
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Last winter I still had my little patio hive, it's half the size of a standard langstroth. Not much heat can hold up in a small hive like that so I blanketed my hive every night during winter.
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40 and Finally! If you really need to see or hear your bees, continue knocking on the porch and the sides of the hive, and blow your breath into the entrance of the hive. they will think you are a bear sniffing and huffing around the hive.
We apitherapist are taught some tricks to get the guard bees to come to the entrance. Once I see a guard bee or two I nab them with long tweezers and put them into a jar. I do it quickly so that they will not come out of the entrance, or not very far anyway.
It may take 2-3 minutes, they are reluctant
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I'm not so sure I'd want to bother the bees to that point in the cold. Can't be good for the cluster. A cheap stethoscope is the way to go for checking on hives.
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I was gonna take a funny Picture... but... as She took the picture, the THOUGHT of Perry, with a stethoscope, and rubber gloves came to mind...
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs15.postimg.cc%2Fm4boztzo7%2FDSCF0008.jpg&hash=5ce91cdb3314cc46f531e7e64e416391e09c59e2) (http://postimg.cc/image/m4boztzo7/)
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Well I know one hive made it, it got up to 45f here yesterday and one hive scramble out to see the sun, saw nothing from the other one though, if it gets up in high 50 today like they say and see no bees I will be lifting the top to take a peek. Here hoping.
Ken
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lol lazy......... :D
"blow your breath into the entrance of the hive. they will think you are a bear sniffing and huffing around the hive."
lol jen, you really don't want your bees thinking there is a bear sniffing and huffing around the hive........ :D
pete had a good point about not disturbing the cluster in our colder climates. i don't use a stethoscope, just put my ear to the hives, and just a tap or two will bring an elevated hum.
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riv- I do it every week when I need bees for sting clients. If I blow into the entrance, the bees think it is an intruder, and one or two or three work their way down to the entrance to check it out.
If my husband blows his beer cigarette breath into the hive... Well I stay in the house and watch out the window :D
My hive is insulated in ridged board. I cannot tap on the hive and hear a buzz, so I have to put my ear right on the entrance and tap, and even then it's iffy.
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Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Well a cheap stethoscope, did the trick. There is a pretty good hum coming from the hive I thought we lost. It appears to be quite a bit lighter than the other on, but still a little bit of weight to it. We are so happy. Thanks for the stethoscope idea, just took a load off our minds. Thanks :laugh: :D ;D ;D
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i've heard talks around here about putting them in greenhouses. so being my first year and didn't want to lose them due to winter and me not knowing any better, i put them in one. took off one side of the panels and covered the rest with plastic to help. and i tell you what. it worked. my hive is strong and going. just today i checked on the food supply(drivert sugar and patties). when i got in the greenhouse i could here the buzzing from them inside. it was 48 degrees outside and 50 degrees inside, and i have a temp gauge on a tree and one inside. so from me that's what i'm gonna do. not saying it works for everyone but it did me.
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Just be careful when they start to fly. If they go to the top of the greenhouse and can't get out, they will stay there and die. They will not come back down.
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when spring comes i'm gonna take it all off so it will be wide open
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40- Very Extra Cool! Happy Dance For You!
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And just what are you plannen to do with them gloves Doc? (He says in his best Clint Eastwood rasp)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.cc%2Fwmcjilpm5%2FRay.jpg&hash=c12a7272d3a06bd5add1eda8ab8b13b4a9c427ee) (http://postimg.cc/image/wmcjilpm5/)
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And just what are you plannen to do with them gloves Doc? (He says in his best Clint Eastwood rasp)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.cc%2Fwmcjilpm5%2FRay.jpg&hash=c12a7272d3a06bd5add1eda8ab8b13b4a9c427ee) (http://postimg.cc/image/wmcjilpm5/)
With you starin at me like that!? :o (hand you the stethoscope and be on my way). :laugh: Let me know if you heard anything, and, you can keep the stethoscope! :laugh:
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LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have NO IDEA how exactly my thought matched what you said Perry.. I turned the page to reply and saw what you posted. Still laughing....,
Marty......
when spring comes i'm gonna take it all off so it will be wide open
You don't want to step into this thread uninformed and read that!!! I had to backtrack JUST to see what he was talking about.