Weighed the hive today and it was 70.5lb so that means they have gone through 6.5lb of stores in 16 days, it was -1 C on the mercury but i took the cosy of anyway to feed them and they had very little fondent left, when i moved the slate from over the feed hole they came out in good numbers so they are not clustering even in cold temperatures, i gave them around 2lb's of there own set honey in a inverted takeaway tub over the feed hole and 2lb's of candipollen gold which they where on like a rash, the cosey will not accommodate the takeaway tub so i put a super on the crown board with two slabs of polystyrene inside that will have been 4in thick crown board taped on top of that and cosey back on.
I also checked the inspection tray and i could clearly see they are well into there stores by the lines of white cappings and there was also two seems of brood capping so the queen is still there for now (lets hope it is not all drone brood), she is not doing bad for a 3yr old granny even though her daughters are evil..