On 18 Mar 96 at 12:09, richard albert wrote:
 
> 1) I live in Southern New Brunswick.  Presently, night time temperatures
> approx. -10 to -5 C.  Day time temperatures approx. -3 to +6 C.
>
> 2) My 10 hives are wrapped up in black tar paper.  They all have upper
> ventilation holes  cut out of the inner cover rim.  I have access to the
> inner cover through a "bonnet" of straw insulation covering it.  The straw,
> I noticed, is fairly wet and mouldy.
>
> 3)  I am concerned that their honey stores will be insufficient to carry
> them through to Spring.
>
> 4) Is it feasible at this time, given the low temperatures, to place a
> gallon jar of sugar water (1:1) over the hole in the inner cover to feed
> them.
 
 
Yes, I do this sometimes with aim to supply bees with water,
which is scarce in the early spring, when temperatures are
too low for bees to collect enough water outside.
It works well on condition that the jar (instead of jars you may
use  2l PET returnable bottles making 2mm hole in a screw cap.)
is kept warm (i.e. in dry straw). In case that the jar is not
warm enough the bees will not take the syrup, so I guess you
can't make any harm anyway.
 
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