How warm?

[colbees]

How warm does it have to be for bees to come out in the winter?

[mikecva]

It depends on the type of bees you have, the sun, wind, etc. but you did not ask for all of that. Usually my bees will come out at 40-45F with bright sun and no wind. 45-50F with sun and mild breeze. They will make very short flights (2-5 feet) below 40F.   -Mike

[tefer2]

Mine are usually out for potty break at fifty degrees. Lower temperature if they are wrapped in tar paper. The tar paper sometimes makes the hive too warm, fools them into flying to their death.

[Michael Bush]

I've seen potty breaks on a sunny calm 20 some degree day.  They don't usually actually fly anywhere until it hits 50 or so, but the darker bees sometimes do at colder temps.

[dirt road]

Mine are usually out for potty break at fifty degrees. Lower temperature if they are wrapped in tar paper. The tar paper sometimes makes the hive too warm, fools them into flying to their death.

I've been wondering about this, since I watched mine dragging bodies out of the hive at 34 deg. F, about 10 days ago. Only about half of the cleaners were making it back to the entrance. Now the snow is littered with dead bees. I think I'm going to remove the tar paper. This is the first time I ever wrapped a hive, and I'm thinking it was a mistake.

[Maryland Beekeeper]

dirt road,
 surely add porch roof, perhaps increase bottom ventilation, I'd leave the paper for now, inspect(read dissect) dead B's if you suspect disease or parasite report findings,  overheating is an uncommon problem @ 34 deg.
Cheers,
Drew

[Finski]

It depends the angle of sun too, how it heats the bee body on snow surface.

Here succesfull cleansing flight is possible in March when sun is bright, no wind and temp is 41F. Then bees can rise up from snow.
Wind drifting may kill then thousands on snow.


.

[bailey]

Mine fly at 55 on calm days with sun.   Some a bit colder but not too many.
We have it nice down here.  Checked a nuc 2 days age. Loads of capped brood in 3 of 5 frames
Bailey

[Fox Creek]

Was 50 and sunny today. Checked my bees and saw them in cleansing flight. Then I saw bees going in with bright orange pollen. Don't ask where its coming from. The bees were not talking.

[sawdstmakr]

I have seen my bees flying and bringing back pollen at 43 degrees. Last week was mostly in the 50's and it looks like a major flow in on. I know that maple is starting to bloom but I am seeing several different colors of pollen.
Jim

[Finski]

I have seen my bees flying and bringing back pollen at 43 degrees. Last week was mostly in the 50's and it looks like a major flow in on. I know that maple is starting to bloom but I am seeing several different colors of pollen.
Jim

What is your snow cover now in Jacksonville?

Sorry, I could not pass that

Forecast jacksonville winter  

day 25°C  night  16°C

25°....16°

26°.....16°

25°......16°

.

Here - 10C and -16C

[sawdstmakr]

SNOW, most people here don't even know what that is. I actually have a snow shovel and sleds. They came in handy in 1989 when we had 2" of snow. Shut the whole town down. I grew up in Pennsylvania and lived in Maryland. I also took my daughter ice skating.
Jim

[CapnChkn]

I remember those three days.  My next door neighbors' were out in the street sliding around on the ice.

We had some sun and 70°F weather here in middle TN Friday, and I opened all the hives.  To my surprise they're gathering nectar from somewhere.  Frames are 3/4 full.  I'm guessing it has to be the Maples.  It's been as low as 23°F since the end of the year.

[greenbtree]

Mine will fly on a calm, sunny day at 40. My hives are down in a cut in the woods, in a dip, that helps because it holds the heat from the sun and calms the air.

JC