February 2015: Feeding Winter Patties

The colony on the right: A lot of yellow and brown specks can be seen in the snow.This is a n indication that the bees have some sort of dysentery. I am not too worry, because it is all in the snow, not on the hive. They were cleansing (pooping) that's all...maybe more than the others!

  February 7, 2015

We left our house it was 36F and had a little sunshine, after 15 minutes the sun disappeared and the temperature had fallen quickly....to 33F.

This is one of the  reason why colonies are very vulnerable, the sudden change and the wide range, from -3F at night to 36F during the day in a week. Obviously when it is colder the bees eat more, so they can keep warm. In addition the queen is getting closer to lay her eggs, and the workers will have to keep the newly brood very warm 90F (32C)...they will eat a lot. First the  honey that they made and stored during summer and fall. But then, before our first dandelions bloom, around April 15, if we are lucky; they will have eaten all their precious food.

Bees on top box. The frames have honey.

 To help them through this difficult period, end of winter and beginning of spring; Ben and I gave each  colony a "winter" patty. We slid it under the moisture board, right on top of the frames, where the bees greeted us!

Patty placed right where the bees are!

These patties are called winter patties because they are high in carbohydrates and have only 3% of proteins. This is essentially the fuel that keep the bees alive. They eat the patty, and this give them plenty of energy to rapidly contract their wing muscles , keeping them and the coming brood warm.

I will be checking their food availability,  and I will add a winter patty as needed, every couple of week until something is blooming!

Hope spring is coming sooner than later, this year......

Happy Beekeeping!