Updated the site today with a few more pictures and information. Temps were AT 50 degrees so I took the opportunity to open the hives and check bees and stores.
I had to add sugar to most hives. ALL hives are IN the top. Reserves are gone despite some extra feeding last fall. It will be a struggle to keep them going until it is warm enough for syrup.
I cleaned out the one deadout I had and looked it over well. Top of the cluster was two inches from honey. This hive was the last of my deep south bees. Because of these bees I have very strong dislike for southern bees in general. ALL of my other hives MOVED to stores despite the incredibly harsh cold this winter, this hive did not.
Tim Wilbanks mentioned in a talk he gave at a class that Reputable breeders imported northern genetics, (specifically referencing his fathers operation I assumed) to keep this exact thing from happening. His talk impressed me enough that I have ordered TWO packages to give the Wilbanks bees a go up here and see how they do. I am interested in comparing them to the northern raised and bred Carniolans and the feral survivors I currently have. Time and COLD temps will tell!
I also have VSH Gold Queens ordered to increase the resistant genetics of my Apiary. I am excited to see how these bees perform when compared to the rest!
Its going to be an interesting year!
I had to add sugar to most hives. ALL hives are IN the top. Reserves are gone despite some extra feeding last fall. It will be a struggle to keep them going until it is warm enough for syrup.
I cleaned out the one deadout I had and looked it over well. Top of the cluster was two inches from honey. This hive was the last of my deep south bees. Because of these bees I have very strong dislike for southern bees in general. ALL of my other hives MOVED to stores despite the incredibly harsh cold this winter, this hive did not.
Tim Wilbanks mentioned in a talk he gave at a class that Reputable breeders imported northern genetics, (specifically referencing his fathers operation I assumed) to keep this exact thing from happening. His talk impressed me enough that I have ordered TWO packages to give the Wilbanks bees a go up here and see how they do. I am interested in comparing them to the northern raised and bred Carniolans and the feral survivors I currently have. Time and COLD temps will tell!
I also have VSH Gold Queens ordered to increase the resistant genetics of my Apiary. I am excited to see how these bees perform when compared to the rest!
Its going to be an interesting year!