Al Needham wrote:
>
 
> Seriously, I only have two hives and periodically take out
> the entrance reducer and run a thin dowel thru and sweep out
> what is there. A few days ago, I did this and I swept out what
> seemed to be an inordinate pile of deceased members. I thought
> I surely had lost this hive. A couple of days later the temp
> went up high enough for some cleansing flights. A number emerged
> from this hive..a much greater number than from the other hive.
>
> The question: Should I have opened it up ...
 
> Thanks for the input from all of us who may be in need of this type
> of advice!
>
In winter, unless the temperature is quite warm (>50F), I would not open
the hive for inspection.  Put your ear against the side of the hive and
tap sharply on the hive body.  A sudden humming indicates a good colony,
silence a dead one, and weak buzzing something in between.  Then heft
the back of the hive to check its weight.  If light, add a candy board,
quickly, to the top of the brood chambers.
 
Don't worry about dead bees on the bottom board.  Be sure the bees have
an upper entrance, above dead bee accumulation and snow.  There is
always time for bottom board cleaning in the spring.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA