Bees freezing at night?

[Gypsi]

I can relate to your experience Riverbee.  check the fondant thread for my surprise: you have a migratory cover on this hive and need to change it, and NO they were not in cluster, they were on bottom of lid.  Ran to house for smoker suit and gloves, and got an inner cover out of the shed before I went back.  I only lost 10 to 20

[Jen]

Gypsi- "and Jen, that chopper is pretty nice for bee transport

      Thanks Gypsi! 

[riverbee]

thanks gypsi.  i felt like a total idiot. 15 to 20 degrees F and i lifted off the inner cover lid. i nearly came unglued when that came off with the outer cover. the bees were clustered, and they were in the bottom deep.  bees are pretty cold hardy but was concerned about heat loss and more so, i was concerned about disturbing the cluster; working at the outer cover trying to get the inner cover unglued from the outer cover, without lifting it, so i could quickly get the insulation underneath the outer cover.   the work they did for a short period of time after that whole lid shebang mess up to heat themselves again......like i said i felt like a total dummers and an idiot.  when they settled and quieted down to barely a hum,(and yes i kept checking them)...... i moved the snow away from the front of the e/r jammed in there earlier to keep them from coming out.  and btw, i wasn't wearing any WINTER gloves.........

they are good and all is well.....

[LazyBkpr]

heheh  I am always amazed at how easily the bees can make me feel dumb..