We've inspected a number of hives this past week in the Sierra Foothills.
Even in this relatively mild winter climate (only a couple of frosts so
far, and pollen still coming in on many days,  most of my inspected hives
have zero brood at the moment (a few have a small amount of unemerged
sealed brood remaining).  Based upon previous years' experience, most will
initiate broodrearing in late Dec or the first week of January.  Those that
wait longer will be combined with others.  So I'm not at all surprised by
your observations in Montana.

Szabo's bees came from an Alberta stock, but I'm only reporting what he
said, since I didn't look for myself.  Owen's winter thermal data  suggests
that no midwinter broodrearing was taking place in his hives in Madison
Wisconsin during the coldest period.

>
>
-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html