"river- what are your temps these days? I thought you could feed until it got down into the 40's & stayed there. I usually feed until they quit taking it."freezing the you know what cold!...............
we took a nose dive since last week or so rober, but unusual, higher than normal temps, up and down. we have been in the 30's with night temps in the 20's and the frosts. it's been snowing here since last evening, rain and snow mix. my usual cut off date for feeding any syrup is typically about october 11, and typically don't feed syrup when daytime temps drop below about 55 df, nights can get really cold here. i suppose i have skated by feeding at 5o df during the daytime.
past years, and this year was warmer than average. i didn't have to feed this year. depends i guess on how you feed syrup? i use one gallon or two gallon pails. even with weather at 40 degrees, the syrup gets cold (even in the 50's). if you are using quarts and warming the syrup up they will probably take it if need be? i have insulated one gallon pails in the past when night time temps dip down when we have 50 or upper 50's or even 60's during the day. our river valley sure can get damp and cold in a hurry sometimes. we spent a night on the river one evening just recently; camping out, grilling dinner, campfire, it was a beautiful day and evening, probably mid 60's. my bees were flying and nice to see the bottom board busy with activity. that night a chill and a deep fog rolled in on the river.........a temp gauge read 32 degrees f and everything was covered in a heavy moisture.
4 things i don't care for..........shoes, socks, long pants/jeans and heavy jackets.........guess i live in the wrong state. my bees are hardier than i am!...........
"Climates sure do vary...I still have three queen cells hatching this week. Fingers crossed. "they sure do lee, don't rub it in.........
i won't see any queen cells til next spring!