How is everyones bees doing so far this winter. Our elms have started blooming and everyday that is warm enough the bees are bringing in loads of pollen. Maples are just starting also. They are brooding up good in my area so far.

Ahead of schedule here. Probably be hitting the trees early this year.

We had some warm days all my hives at the farm had activity so I'm hoping for a good survival rate. I didn't make it to my out yard when it was warm.
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To early and cold yet here for things to be blooming.

ask me in about 50+ days and they could be into some pollen. but another three weeks after that until can tell you if we've made it thru winter. im down about ten percent but thats about on track with normal years for me

We have had rollercoaster temperature swings this winter, with multiple days in a row in the 50s and then snow, rain and sub 30 degree temps. So the bees have been flying alot on the warm days but with no natural pollen available they are burning through there stores. So any colony that wasnt heavy with feed going into winter, or have sugar bricks on them are at risk for using up their stores and starving out. We shall see come spring, my brother has twelve hives and due to our dad being in the hospital he didnt get any emergency feed on them. I only have one high this winter and I did put a Hive A Live foundant patty on them 3 weeks ago. Hopefully will be able to check on them tomorrow afternoon and see if they need more feed.

I put more dry sugar on the other day, but they had already burned through their super. Not looking good in my opinion.

Yep, if it would just get cold and stay that way for 3-4 weeks it will help a lot. Definitely have to help them through. Most of our hives are double deeps, but my brother has 2 singles and 1 double stacked nuc.

I don't keep bees but every time we get a warm day they drive me nuts in my feed shed. I haven't gotten stung but it's a little annoying having to fight a bunch of bees for the feed bucket.

First year keeping bees for me I just sat the box in the yard after a few months bees started using it we had a warm spell there a couple weeks ago I noticed looked like majority of the bees were out on the side of the box not sure if they left or what any input?

TurkeyWrangler: When the elms and maples start blooming in your part of the state they will leave your feed alone. Should be shortly after next weeks cool temps and rain.

Wintered 14, 10 hives left.

I put dry sugar on my hives in December and have not been in them since. I did notice several bees flying yesterday. Hopefully the majority will make it till spring.

Yesterday I finished treating my hives for mites all 30 had activity. The dead ash tree I cut down for firewood last week stump was covered with bees yesterday afternoon.

I have 4 hives , It has been too cold for them to bee out . They were out poopin about , three weeks ago one day. If we get a mild day , I will check their dry sugar supply, and add more if needed. About 20F today, snowing. Nice winter day. old243

Mine are buried in snow. Like you can just see the tops of many of them.

I might bring the Flir thermal camera out one day when it gets into the double digits, for fun.

I found it best to not even mess with them until it's in the 50s minimum. That's a long ways away for us here. Was only 5 above here today.

I feel for you men up norths bees. I do not know how they make it up there. We will be making cell starters and grafting at the end of next month down here.

I'm still new at this. Entered winter with 2 hives. Killed one with ineptitude sadly. Fed 2:1 sugar water way too late into the fall. Lots of uncured sugar water in the hive that died. I believe all the moisture was a contributing factor there. The other hive is going strong and pulling in lots of pollen.

Thats a good score trapping a swarm in your yard like that. They are probably still there if they didnt starve. Put your ear against the box and listen for a buzz. Feed them if you can.

I split two packages of bees and last spring, and then split a nuc out of them to make five. I have a full cake pan size sugar brick and a quit box of dry grass on top. They are wrapped and insulated and dont get a cleansing flight all winter.

I put my ear to the box, and all are still alive, but winter is not over here until late April I will pop the tops around the 12th of April and see how many made it then.