Cold weather and swarming
Cold weather and swarming
Will this cold snap we have coming up stop or delay a hive from swarming?
It supposed to be in the 50's for highs and low 30's for lows for 3 to 4 days.
Would it be better to hold off adding another brood box until after it warms back up?
LH I want to add some comments to your Activity thread later tonight.
Thanks,
Ski
It supposed to be in the 50's for highs and low 30's for lows for 3 to 4 days.
Would it be better to hold off adding another brood box until after it warms back up?
LH I want to add some comments to your Activity thread later tonight.
Thanks,
Ski
Ski, That is a very good question. I hope that it won't hurt them by adding another brood box (I am assuming that is the same as a deep super) because I added one Friday. I got one from Wally and went ahead and stuck it on the hive. They have been really busy and I hope it is because they are drawing comb to build up the new box. Having said that, I want to take your question one step further. For those of us who have added new bodies, what if comb is drawn and eggs have been laid in the new body? Would the eggs be ok, would they protect them, or would the eggs not need anything because the cold only bothers larvae and/or pupae?? And what is the deal anyway with the new body? Does it add extra cold by being empty?
I think the cold snap will stop about everything because they will be clustered to keep the brood warm.
I am guessing that IF the queen lays in the new box before the cold snap they may be lost if there are not enough bees to keep the brood warm. So it willl depend on the amount of bees in the hive.
I am guessing so Someone please correct this if I am wrong.
I am guessing that IF the queen lays in the new box before the cold snap they may be lost if there are not enough bees to keep the brood warm. So it willl depend on the amount of bees in the hive.
I am guessing so Someone please correct this if I am wrong.
Hmmmm intresting comment L&H.
Maybe its the other way around, the hive is warm from the bees keeping the brood warm. I dont't think they can warm the hive when it gets "Bee Cold" but they will warm the brood to the extent they have bodies or workers to generate heat. At least thats my understanding.
Maybe its the other way around, the hive is warm from the bees keeping the brood warm. I dont't think they can warm the hive when it gets "Bee Cold" but they will warm the brood to the extent they have bodies or workers to generate heat. At least thats my understanding.
Ski, that is what I mean. I just thought the comb and the bees stayed warm while the air inside the hive would become "chilled". I didn't know the hive temp would be warmer also. Is this not what Wally was saying? He said the BOX would stay at 60 degrees. I assume that means the air in the hive. Let me know if this is right or if you can understand what I am saying. How many bees do you think your hive has??
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Hey guys
I think we are saying the same thing with different thoughts and words. The bottom line is as Kurt indicated the cluster temp and keeping the brood warm. Wally's point was reality in that it will be cold for us some plants will take a hit but not a big deal for the bees. Daytime highs in the 50's they will be back foraging during the day. My hopes were that it may slow the egg laying down a bit or minimize the swarming.
I don't know how many bees in the hive. Is there a good way of estimating?
I think we are saying the same thing with different thoughts and words. The bottom line is as Kurt indicated the cluster temp and keeping the brood warm. Wally's point was reality in that it will be cold for us some plants will take a hit but not a big deal for the bees. Daytime highs in the 50's they will be back foraging during the day. My hopes were that it may slow the egg laying down a bit or minimize the swarming.
I don't know how many bees in the hive. Is there a good way of estimating?