Dave from Scranton wrote:
 
>         It was snowing, but warm, maybe 35F and it hasn't gotten colder
> than 20F adn most days the last month or so have been up around 40-50F. I
> figure they'd been fairly active since it hasn't been that cold. I left
> them around two deeps for the winter, but with it being so warm though
> they may need some. I gave them a 3/4 full division board feeder, thinking
> they'd take what they needed. Was this a bad thing? Am I going to spur the
> queen into egg laying when she shouldn't for a few more months?
 
No, the queen will start laying at the appropriate time.  If you think
that the bees need food, it is always a good idea to provide it.  If
they don't need it now they won't take it, but they may well need it
later.
 
However, usually the division board feeder is placed at one side of the
hive body.  Bees generally move vertically unless the external
temperature rises.  I would recommend rather a feeder placed atop the
chambers rather than at the side for winter feeding.  I personally
prefer to use candy boards during the coldest days of winter because
they are solid rather than liquid and because they fit over the entire
area of the upper chamber.  Wherever the bees move up, they will
encounter the feed in the candy board.  (For details, follow the
Bee-Plus link in http://www.cybertours.com/~midnitebee/ or others.)
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA