Cold weather ahead

[gregior]

I'm a keen follower of the weather and it looks like a prolonged (possibly a few weeks)and very cold spell of weather is on the way,with winds coming from the east which hasn't happened for a good few years.
One of mine was hefting light last week so i think i'll have a quick swap around of stores so they all have easily accessible food close to the cluster, with brood present now a higher cluster temp is needed so stores will be getting used up more quickly .Isolation starvation could be a real danger over the next few weeks.

 

[birdsandbees]

with the weather being comparatively mild on Saturday in my area (8-9 degrees and sunny) I took a quick look into some of my colonies to see what was going on, first glimpse since the start of winter.
I was surprised to see no brood in several of them and very little in a couple of others, still have stores to last a several weeks but lots of empty polished comb now, I can't help but wonder if they know bad weather is coming so are holding off.

queens present but slim. (just getting ahead of the possible question)

they do also have fondant provided just in case.

 

[alldigging]

I can't help but wonder if they know bad weather is coming so are holding off.

It being early February is the big clue I think.

 

[Finman]

.
Tomorrow night -2OC here. But as total, winter has been very warm.

 

[birdsandbees]

It being early February is the big clue I think.

well yes, but we have had some mild weather of late and I hear many people saying that their bees have been building up brood already, I'm not that surprised and to be honest I'm relieved that they haven't begun building up yet especially with the forecast

 

[Poly Hive]

It is mid winter people.

Leave well alone unless fondant is needed or you think they might.

PH

 

[Fatbee]

I know it varies to where you live but for me this has been one of the coldest winters for some time. Sustained weeks of frosts every night and so forth. Would be surprised to find brood in mine - and won't be looking for it.

 

[madasafish]

Our lowest temperature - in greenhouse - has been -3C.

In the winters of 2010-11 and 2011-12 it was -18C.

So it's balmy ..for February.

 

[Little John]

Our lowest temperature - in greenhouse - has been -3C.

In the winters of 2010-11 and 2011-12 it was -18C.

So it's balmy ..for February.

My thoughts exactly - at this locale it's been the mildest I can remember - a few token overnight frosts, but nothing below -2 deg C (so far) - and those were only for a few hours. And no negative temps at all during the day.

I've had fondant on for a couple of weeks now, but only one hive has been digging away at it - so far.

I rather think that the "there's no need to feed bees" brigade will come very badly unstuck this coming Spring ...
LJ

 

[For want of a better word]

I rather think that the "there's no need to feed bees" brigade will come very badly unstuck this coming Spring...... but not as badly as the " no need to feed the bees" brigade that did not feed enough in the Autumn!

Yeghes da

 

[REDWOOD]

Scientists are still debating whether global warming has a link with the world coming out of an ice age. One thing for sure our winters are not as cold as they were 50 years ago

 

[chrisb]

being near the coast it can change for us in no time, checked in on them two days ago only quick look under top board they were proper active and were even cleaning up a little fondant they had left in a corner.
good job I did check on them, one had dragged some old wax proof paper from the fondant through the entrance and blocked it. they were going mad !
a couple sat on my hand while i cleared the entrance probably glad of the little warmth it gave

 

[Millet]

I am sat laughing here, finally the southern softies are finding out what winter weather is like up North.. , every year.