Post by roadrunner on Jan 20, 2014 15:12:19 GMT
Today although the outside temperature was only registering 5 degrees centigrade I spotted a small number of bees coming out of the 2 x hives that get the most sun. On lifting the roof on another hive I removed the piece of carpet that covers the piece of glass that I use to cover the feeding aperture and could then see the bees moving about.
i then decided that they might appreciate a feed and split a pack of Ambrosia into 4 x equal parts and put it into 4 x old plastic Chinese take-way food containers, pressing the ambrosia firmly down so it stuck to the bottom of the containers, I didn't bother with the lids. On removing the crown board glass I just upended the container over the hole.
Two of my hives were very active and entered the transparent containers immediately. The other two were a bit more docile but 1 or 2 bees entered each container.
To summarise it would appear that my 4 x hives have come safely through the worst part of the winter and are ready to feed. Hopefully all that remains to be done is to keep supplying them with Ambrosia for a few weeks.
i then decided that they might appreciate a feed and split a pack of Ambrosia into 4 x equal parts and put it into 4 x old plastic Chinese take-way food containers, pressing the ambrosia firmly down so it stuck to the bottom of the containers, I didn't bother with the lids. On removing the crown board glass I just upended the container over the hole.
Two of my hives were very active and entered the transparent containers immediately. The other two were a bit more docile but 1 or 2 bees entered each container.
To summarise it would appear that my 4 x hives have come safely through the worst part of the winter and are ready to feed. Hopefully all that remains to be done is to keep supplying them with Ambrosia for a few weeks.