I just returned from the first 'real trip' to the bee yard. 'Real' because it is the first time since November that I fired up the smoker and opened up the boxes to check on the condition of the bees. Five of the seven colonies are still alive, and the two that died were weak going into the fall. I know, "Don't overwinter weak colonies." I promise, this fall I will combine weak colonies. Really.
It has been a long, cold winter, and the boxes are light on honey, so the feed jars are being filled this afternoon. I put a 'Mega-Bee' pollen patty on each colony and got the inner covers and extra boxes set to get ready for the feed jars. The jars contain two parts sugar to one part water and a dose of Fumagilin-B to manage Nosema infection. I'm guessing Nosema levels are going to be high this 'spring' due to the bees being couped up all winter.
The forecast for the next week looks great. Mild and some sun, with temperatures in the low to mid-forties. The bees and most Bozemanites will enjoy a little break from winter.
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