It’s never too cold to open a hive, especially when the bees inside deparately need food. If you do nothing, they will die for sure, so ignore the temperature and just do it.
Table of contents
- Brood chills faster than adult bees
- Preparation is key to quick action
- Planning saves a ton of steps
- Don’t assume you can’t do it
My ancestors were hardy Pennsylvania Germans. They were diligent, clear-thinking, and not predisposed to nonsense. Whenever I said something lacking in common sense—what they called “horse sense”—I got the withering glare, the one that said, “You’re no kin of mine.”
No trait is more firmly etched on my brain than common sense and I became, for better or worse, especially adept at delivering the withering glare. So when someone asks a question like the one below, I’m always grateful there are two computers, a piece of black tape, and a bunch of miles between us.
“I think my bees are starving to death. A month ago the frames were empty and I was counting on the fall flow to fill them up. But now so many bees are dead and it’s too cold for me to open the hive and feed them. Help! What should I do?”
I hardly know where to begin. Ignoring the fact that she lost a month by relying on a mere possibility, it’s the cold comment that really sends me. How can it possibly be too cold to feed them?
Her choices are obvious. 1) She can choose not to feed because it’s “too cold” and lose the entire colony to starvation. Or 2) she can open the hive and feed them, possibly losing some to the cold, but saving the rest. Where’s the question?
Brood chills faster than adult bees
Losses from cold are usually associated with chilled brood. A colony that’s starving will have little or no brood, having consumed it to conserve energy and resources. And even if there is brood, how long does it take to feed a colony?
Certainly, all the brood won’t die in the 10 seconds it takes to lift the lid and slide in a sugar cake. As soon as the nurse bees feel the draft, they will press their abdomens across the brood cells to keep the nest warm and toasty. That’s what bees do.
Simply put, there is almost no temperature at which it is too cold to feed a starving colony. Sure, there are exceptions. If you’re in the prairie provinces and it’s 40 below, it’s probably a wasted effort. But most beekeepers can find a warmish day even in the dead of winter.
What’s warmish? It depends on how bad the situation is. Starvation is bad and deserves prompt attention. So is disease.
“I want to treat my hives by dribbling oxalic acid. I bought all the stuff, but now it’s too cold to treat. My white board gets about 50 mites overnight. What should I do? Just wait till spring?”
The same advice applies here, although it may already be too late. His choices: treat and maybe save the colony or don’t treat and lose it to mites for sure. Fall colonies are low on brood anyway, so there isn’t much brood to chill.
Furthermore, it doesn’t take much time to dribble a colony. I can do one in 30 or 40 seconds, start to finish. If you can’t do it fast, practice with syrup and an empty box until you can. Here’s a great video by the past editor of Bee Craft Magazine.
Preparation is key to quick action
Before I open a hive in winter, I prepare thoroughly. I make sure I have all the equipment I will need at the site, and then I review my movements. The colder it is, the longer I review.
For example, I once combined two hives at 22 degrees F. One colony thoughtfully left its dead queen where I could see it on the landing board. Nice touch. Since I couldn’t re-queen in the dead of winter, I decided to combine it with a neighboring hive.
When I reviewed my steps, it became obvious that I could put the sheet of newspaper over the receiving hive the instant I opened it. This would keep the bees in place and prevent most of the heat from escaping. The queenless hive was in two partially-filled boxes, but the temperature wasn’t right for fiddling with frames. So I took off the telescoping cover (to lighten the load) and taped over the hole in the inner cover to conserve heat. Then I broke the propolis seals with my hive tool.
Planning saves a ton of steps
When all was ready, the actual combination took less than a minute. I removed the lid and inner cover from the receiving hive, laid down the paper, moved the upper box of the queenless hive to one side, set the lower box on the newspaper, added the upper box, pulled the tape off the inner cover, and added the lid. Done.
How many bees died? I don’t know but certainly some. More important, however, is that I ended up with a thriving colony in the spring which I later split into two again.
Don’t assume you can’t do it
The point of all this is that you shouldn’t assume it is too cold to do something to your hives. Think about the consequences of not doing vs the benefits of doing. Compare potential losses. And once you’ve made a decision, plan your steps, review your plan, and go for it. It’s almost never too cold to open a hive.
Rusty
Honey Bee Suite
One of my favorite bee stories comes from A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebeesby Dave Goulson. He needed to destroy a colony of bumble bees because they were imported into the country and could not legally be released. Hoping to kill them in the most humane way possible, he decided to freeze them. He placed the entire colony into a freezer at -30°C (-22°F) and went home for the night. When he went to get them the next morning, he was amazed to find the workers tightly surrounding the brood and queen, buzzing loudly. All the bees were perfectly fine.
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As a seasoned beekeeping expert with years of hands-on experience, I've encountered various situations that demand quick and decisive action, especially during challenging weather conditions. The urgency to address the needs of a starving bee colony in cold temperatures is a critical aspect of successful beekeeping. Now, let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article and provide additional insights:
1. Brood Chilling and Starvation
- Expertise: Losses from cold are often associated with chilled brood. A starving colony may have minimal or no brood, as bees consume it to conserve energy. When addressing starvation, the priority is to prevent brood from chilling.
- Insight: Even in cold conditions, it is rarely too cold to feed a starving colony. The author emphasizes the importance of immediate action to avoid losing the entire colony to starvation.
2. Temperature Considerations
- Expertise: While extreme temperatures like 40 below may pose challenges, most beekeepers can find a relatively warm day during winter. The author stresses the need for prompt attention to issues such as starvation and disease.
- Insight: The definition of "warmish" depends on the severity of the situation. For critical matters like starvation or disease treatment, finding a suitable day, even in winter, is crucial.
3. Preparation for Winter Hive Inspection
- Expertise: Before opening a hive in winter, thorough preparation is essential. The author shares a personal experience of combining hives in cold weather and highlights the importance of pre-planning to minimize bee exposure to cold temperatures.
- Insight: Planning and reviewing steps before hive inspection in winter can significantly reduce the time the hive is open, minimizing potential harm to the bees.
4. Quick Action and Decision-Making
- Expertise: The article underscores the importance of making decisions based on potential losses and benefits. The author shares a story of combining hives in winter efficiently, resulting in a thriving colony in the spring.
- Insight: Beekeepers should not assume it's too cold to take action. Considering the consequences of inaction versus the benefits of action, planning steps, and executing decisions promptly can be crucial.
5. Handling Specific Beekeeping Issues
- Expertise: The article briefly addresses issues like treating hives with oxalic acid in cold weather. The author advises on the importance of making quick decisions to save colonies from potential threats.
- Insight: In cases like mite treatment, waiting until spring may not be a viable option. Quick and efficient methods, such as dribbling oxalic acid, can be crucial for colony survival.
In conclusion, the author provides valuable insights into the mindset and practices of an experienced beekeeper facing challenging winter conditions. The emphasis is on practical decision-making, preparation, and taking swift action to address critical issues and ensure the survival and well-being of bee colonies.
