It's no use standing and listening for that welcoming "Buzzzzzz". Remember that honey bees can withstand very low temperatures of DRY cold - but damp/wet conditions can kill them.
Well, this is dry and -4C. However, the snow has built up on the let-boards.
?Scrape it off so air can circulate and the bees can fly out if a cleansing flight becomes urgent? But if the day becomes bright and sunny will they come out thinking it's Spring - and die on the snow?
?Leave it on, no draught and they'll stay safely clustered?
OK let's get scraping!!
I tried hefting these hives to check they have sufficient stores, but the ice has stuck them to the ground. By pulling out the varroa trays it's possible to gauge where the cluster is, and how much uncapping has gone on.
Don't lift the roof or crown-board just yet - it's best to leave the ambient temp. the bees have built up.
Keep checking the trays. It may be necessary to add a block of candy above the cluster if we get a warmer spell.
Anxious time isn't it? Not long to wait for those little furry bodies to emerge once more. QB BzzXzz.
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