Opinions Needed: Cold Weather and Feeding Packages...

[LazyBkpr]

That is a little odd compared to my own experiences with packages...   I've never worn a veil etc when installing packages and never been stung doing it. I have helped a fair number of people install packages as well.
   Nuc's  are a very different story..  I expect it to be very possible transferring a nuc to a hive.

[Ray]

I got stung 6 times hiving 10. I think it was the cold weather too.
I have my fingers crossed 20 F this morning, warmed up to 26 :'(

[DonMcJr]

I got my fingers crossed that these arent mean bees...id say 80% of the 30 or so of our club members got stung while installing packages yesterday. ..

[LazyBkpr]

well.. I'd probably be a bit grouchy if someone put me in a box, tossed me around and drove me a thousand miles, then expected me to build a new house...   not to mention being cold...

[riverbee]

hey ray and don, i wouldn't be concerned about the bees being mean or snarky hiving them in our weather, or in the spring of the year, and what scott said.....

anyways, i think you will find they will be just fine later on when they settle in, settle down and the weather warms up. congrats guys!!!

[DonMcJr]

Yes I was thinking it was just the weather too...they went from 100 F weather in California then 40 F in Michigan 2 days later...

if you put me in a huge box with millions of people for 2 days and the temp went from 100 to 40 id be pretty pissed off too! I just installed packages every year for 3-4 years now and never got stung and almost everyone got stung this year...

Funny thing is our Secretary has done 2 months of New Beekeeping presentations and has said I dont know anyone who has gotten stung installing packages and now she's gonna have to change her story lol!

[robo]

I had a student install a package on bees from Mann Lake on April 5th.   The night time temperatures ranged from mid 20s to high 30s and daytime temperatures in the 40s.   The package was placed in a 10 frame deep with entrance reducer and fed 1:1 syrup over the inner cover hole.

Here is a video of the inspection  he did 21 days after the installation. 



I will continue to advise my students to get packages early.   I don't see anyone installing packages now having a chance to catch up to this hive.

[LazyBkpr]

Thanks Robo!
   That certainly proves that it is possible to hive bees when it is cold out.
   So he used a mason jar..  The bees took the syrup OK despite it being cold?
   Mine dont seem to want to touch the syrup when it is that cold out.  30's at night 50 and sunny during the day they just didnt take much. Looking for the secret..   Just make sure its there if they need it?

[robo]

So he used a mason jar..  The bees took the syrup OK despite it being cold?

Yes, he used an inverted mason jar over the inner cover hole.   I do not know if he swapped out with warm syrup daily or not,  but I'll check with him.

Mine dont seem to want to touch the syrup when it is that cold out.  30's at night 50 and sunny during the day they just didnt take much. Looking for the secret..   Just make sure its there if they need it?

Are you talking packages or established hives?  Packages are an entirely different beast than established colonies.  They have a similar instinct (desperation) as swarms. Their continual existence depends on getting comb built and the queen laying ASAP.  Established hives tend to not take syrup unless they get into a desperate situation.   They are more than content to subsist off of stores if the weather is not cooperative.

[LazyBkpr]

Well that makes complete sense, and yes I was talking about established colonies. Thanks for the reply, it was quite helpful.

[robo]

Just got word from him that he did swap out the syrup "frequently".   I'm not exactly sure what that means,  but I usually recommend keeping two jars,  one on the hive and one in the house (room temperature)  and swapping them out daily.

[apisbees]

The bees are doing a good job in building up. Did he start with 2 or 3 lb package? From the looks I would gess a 3 lb. That hive would make it as a polination unit. Hope he is ready for the next super to go on as all that brood that is capped will be emerging over the next 12 days so in weeks he will have close to 18 frames of bees.

Sent from my LG-P500h using Tapatalk 2

[robo]

It was a 3lb package.  Yes, next super is going on.