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> From: Karen M. Ferner <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Help
> Date: Tuesday, May 20, 1997 7:56 AM
>
> Hi all.  My husband and I just got our bees.  They came up from Florida
> (to Rochester, NY) last Thursday.  As usual, the weather here is and has
> been cold.  When picking up the bees, it hailed for 5 minutes.  The
> weather looks like it will stay within 45-65 the rest of the week.  We
> found chilled brood in some hives and are wondering if we should start
> feeding them.  They are in apple orchards which are blooming and would be
> great if it was warm enough.  Will the bees stay inside to clean up the
> dead brood or will they venture out in the sunny periods, even though
> it's a bit chilly?  We have friends who are not too worried and say they
> will be fine.  Are we being too panicky?  It's 47 right now and isn't
> supposed to go past 57 today, but some sun is expected.  Sorry if this is
> a simple question for all you experts, maybe you can give us your
opinion!
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> Karen Ferner
 
By all means feed them is these are package bees and don"t have a supply of
honey in the hive.  If they don't need the syrup, they will ignore it, in
which case all you have lost is a little sugar.  If they need food and it
stays to cold for them to forage,  they could starve because they are
trying to raise brood.  Also if it is very cold,  you can put some
marshmellows on the top bars to sustain them until they can start getting
out again.  This is no substitute for syrup but merely a stop gap until
they can break their cluster to gather nectar or take syrup.
 
Frank Humphrey
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