Ice melted off lower entrance

[Algonam]

Hey there,

I started beekeeping last Spring with these two hives. Installed 4 frame nucs around June 1st. Got some honey and fed them sugar water into the Fall.

The ice finally melted off the main entrance - lower entrance. We still have 18" of snow but it is packing down every day (1 month early).

I have 2 hives-styrofoam loosely on exterior. The odd bee comes out of the upper breather hole and buzzes around for a while then back in - both hives are like this.

The question is regarding one of the hives. Now that the ice has melted off the front of the hives, we can see roughly 15 dead bees along the bottom board beside the entrance. Should we be concerned about this or have some of you seen this before?
These hives have always been totally different from each other, so both could "normal" for all I know.

We have read the bee books and haven't eliminated anything yet as it is still too cold open the hive even for a second. It has been up around 0 C and  slightly above during the day and -12C or so at night.

If you need more info, just let me know.
Thank you,
Algonam-Ottawa Canada.

[AllenF]

You do have an upper entrance right?

[BlueBee]

Only 15 dead?  You have a problem, not enough dead bees! 

Just kidding   Bees die over winter and collect on the bottom board.  15 is actually a low number.  I wouldn’t worry about that at all.  However I would get a stick and dig out the bees around the bottom entrance to make sure it is not plugged up with dead bees.  A pile of dead bees is not a problem, but a blocked bottom entrance IS a problem.  The bees will need a means of egress for cleansing flights as the days get warmer.

[Finski]

Only 15 dead?  You have a problem, not enough dead bees! 

jep. I would say that 750 is normal figure.

let the bees be in peace. When snow is melted, then it is good to lift the hive off and clean the whole bottom.

Only what you may do is to weight with hand, is it heavy enough. If if feels light, open inner cover and look, how much you see capped food in upper parts frames. 

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[Algonam]

Phew!!! That's a relief.
Now I just hope they have enogh food until it is warm enough to feed.

[Vance G]

There are ways to feed now if the hive is light.  Like finski said, give it a lift and see if there is some weight to it.  If it is really light, it is time to start feeding and there are ways to do it.

[Algonam]

How?
Please explain. They must be close to running out by now!

[Vance G]

You can use your shallow super or make a 2 1/2" deep feeder rim.  That will allow you to lay a newspaper on the top bars and indeed on top of the bees.   Lay a sheet or two of newspaper over the topbars and bees and have a spray bottle of water to wet the news paper moderately.  Gently pour some dry sugar on top of the paper.  If you do it slowly and carefully, the bees will flow back down in between the frames.  Put five to ten pounds of the dry sugar on top of the paper spread evenly.  Put the lid back on and walk away.  The bees will eat up thru the newspaper and start eating the sugar.  The sugar will turn into a hard lump as the moisture from the bees is absorbed.  Search mountain camp for more details please.

[Finski]

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That sugar trick......

If the hive needs emergence food, I pour 65% syrup directly into combs.

If you feed,  food store should be at least 10 lbs.  Consuption of food is high in Spring.
You may pour even more syrup to combs.
Ten put those combs into extra boxand that box under the brood box.
Bee will move the syrup upstairs within a week.

Bees need water when they lick dry sugar. It will not succeed if snow is on groud.
But I do not understand that dry sugar feeding at all. Bees need water and syrup has water.

[FRAMEshift]

Bees need water when they lick dry sugar. It will not succeed if snow is on groud.
But I do not understand that dry sugar feeding at all. Bees need water and syrup has water.

During the winter we have alternating cold days and warm days.   It may be 20C during the day and then -5C at night.  Not every night but several times during the winter.  My bees nibble slowly at the dry sugar all winter.  They may be getting the needed water from a nearby creek that flows all winter.  Or they may get it from condensation inside the hive which happens every time the temperature drops suddenly.  We keep the hive as dry as possible in the winter and the bees still find plenty of water.  The sugar is not really dry after a few weeks.  It has picked up moisture from the air and is sort of mushy.

[Finski]

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Algonam is from Canada.  Ontario? Very large area.