Feeding Bees?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Without actually hefting the OP hive nobody on here has a clue what is in the box and by asking the question the OP is unsure himself..putting fondant on would be far safer than a stab in the dark..also why are the bees in the bottom box instead of the top where it is the warmest part of the hive..all mine are at a safe weight and all have fondant on the top bars that the bees are happily nibbling away at.

errrm

They have stores in a supper above them, however, they do not seem to have gone there>

the OP has informed us they have a super of untouched stores.
I thinks it's your rather unqualified bit of 'advice' is the only 'stab in the dark'

 

[Richard60]

Oops, the queen excluder was on. I have removed it now.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Oops, the queen excluder was on. I have removed it now.

Are the bees alive underneath?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oops, the queen excluder was on. I have removed it now.

You've been lucky, you're the second beginner I know who made that mistake this winter - the other one's bees weren't as fortunate. Luckily for you there was still enough stores down in the brood box and it hasn't really been a cold winter so far.
When the bees are tightly clustered they move around as an entity keeping in touch with the stores (they begin moving sideways at the bottom then move up to the top later with the onjective being that by the spring they are up towards the top of the hive for the queen to start laying) at all times they keep the queen safe and snug in the middle of the cluster, when they get to the queen excluder they will only move up until the queen can't go any further, they will not abandon her but will sit there starving within inches of plentiful stores.
A good tip is to start 'hefting' the hive (lifting one end up to judge the weight) at the end of the summer when you've taken off the honey and before feeding for you to get an idea of what a light hive feels like, do this as you are feeding so you get the feel of a heavy hive (when fully fed it will feel as if the hive is nailed down) that way you have an idea of the stores situation throughout the winter as they consume their stores.
a hive with a full super of stores on at the onset of winter should not (but with always a caveat) need a top up towards the end of winter but you can always have a supply of baker's fondant handy just in case.

 

[pargyle]

errrm

the OP has informed us they have a super of untouched stores.
I thinks it's your rather unqualified bit of 'advice' is the only 'stab in the dark'

You were spot on with the Queen excluder ... and the resident Beginners Sectiion Guru's advice once again not spot on ... more spit on I think.

 

[Millet]

Oops, the queen excluder was on. I have removed it now.

Now i know why the bees where in the coldest part of the hive instead of the top..a good lesson learned..i paint all my excluders a high visibility light green colour that i can spot from a good distance..that way i will never forget to remove them.