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Author Topic: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster  (Read 3389 times)

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Gypsi

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hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« on: December 02, 2014, 01:15:10 pm »
After the great robbing effort on Sunday I held off on checking bees fondant until this morning when it was 40 out. and I have an empty box over an inner cover and fondant over the hole.  Smallest hive still has sticky in its sbb, since it is a single box hive and I built the sbb so it has a wee bit of venting effect on top.  Popped lid, they had some fondant left but not much so gave them a new one they are up and eating.

2nd hive, no sticky since it is 2 box and was very HUMID with it in, popped lid, not seeing bees, they still have plenty of fondant.  Can just see bees thru opening in inner cover.  No new fondant, closed lid.

3rd hive is my big one, it has 2 deeps and was the robbery offense on Sunday I think.  NO bees in sight through opening in inner cover, fondant has a hole chewed thru shape of the inner cover.  so I take off the box and prepare to look down below the IC and a couple of bees come out to say high on top of the IC.  Covered opening with fondant and put the box and lid back on. They were definitely clustered.

Since I want hive 1 to continue to tend brood and build up I think I am happy with them keeping their sticky and the other 2 clustering more this winter. What do you think?
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Offline Perry

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2014, 03:02:33 pm »
Everything sounds reasonable to me. :yes:
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Offline riverbee

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2014, 05:58:45 pm »
gypsi, your bees are clustered at 40 degrees........? 

not sure about keeping the sticky in gypsi, i have no experience with these?  good to replenish hive #1 with more fondant.
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Gypsi

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2014, 06:15:50 pm »
I have Texas bees RB, it's cold here.
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Offline iddee

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2014, 08:10:25 pm »
RB, bees begin to cluster at 55 F., and are in full cluster at 42 F.
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Offline riverbee

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2014, 09:49:50 pm »
yes, bees cluster at 55.....that's why i said what i did iddee.....with a question mark to gypsi, the bees are not going to build up in a cluster.........and her bees in hive 1 are going to cluster just as well as the other two hives in 40 degree weather..........
gypsi's question:

"Since I want hive 1 to continue to tend brood and build up I think I am happy with them keeping their sticky and the other 2 clustering more this winter. What do you think?"

the bees are clustering at 40 degrees and not going to be building up......... ;)

perhaps i misunderstood the question?
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Offline iddee

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2014, 06:01:21 am »
NO, I misunderstood your answer. You put a question mark after it and I thought you were questioning that they were clustered.
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2014, 08:50:22 am »
Quote from: Gypsi on December 02, 2014, 01:15:10 pm
2nd hive, no sticky since it is 2 box and was very HUMID with it in, popped lid, not seeing bees, they still have plenty of fondant.  Can just see bees thru opening in inner cover.  No new fondant, closed lid.

Some of this was kind of confusing to me. Are you saying that since there was fondant, you didn't add more?

Honestly, I appreciate all of the years and years of knowledge on this board, but my interest goes up when I see posts from fellow southern keeps. Dumb question coming, but why do you feed fondant instead of just syrup? I have one hive that I got syrup on right now. I forget, is there something else in fondant like protein, medication? Down here, we are fortunate to have warm days from time to time and I have seen bees bringing in pollen as recent as this past weekend.
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Gypsi

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2014, 09:13:16 am »
I only added fondant to the hive that was low and actively needing it.  I make my own: sugar, water, cream of tartar, no protein , I do NOT want the queen laying

And that is why I am not feeding 1:1.  first I have to get it off before freezing nights cause drips on the bees and 2nd I do not want the queen laying this winter. I will add pollen sub after Dec 21.
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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2014, 09:34:26 am »
ABout the time the temps get low enough that the bees start clustering they wont touch cold syrup, and as stated with the slight changes in temp it will drip..
 
   With wrap on the hives, my bees will often be flying on days that its 38ish degrees with good sun and no wind...   My OB hive was venturing out a couple days ago when it was 42.. they have no wrap, but they do have some warmth from the house.  I think.. (here I go thinking again) that a lot depends on location and preparation..
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Offline riverbee

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2014, 09:57:35 am »
"NO, I misunderstood your answer. You put a question mark after it and I thought you were questioning that they were clustered."

oops, sorry for the confusion  :-[  my answer did read that way!
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: hmm.. to cluster or not to cluster
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2014, 01:59:03 pm »
Quote from: Gypsi on December 03, 2014, 09:13:16 am
I only added fondant to the hive that was low and actively needing it.  I make my own: sugar, water, cream of tartar, no protein , I do NOT want the queen laying

And that is why I am not feeding 1:1.  first I have to get it off before freezing nights cause drips on the bees and 2nd I do not want the queen laying this winter. I will add pollen sub after Dec 21.

Ok, that makes sense. I will keep that in mind while feeding syrup.
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