Great news! After a quick peek inside my bee colonies a few days
ago, 19 out of 20 hives made it through the winter (so far). But
just like a Vegas gambler on a winning streak, each surviving
colony is in the process of going “all in,” betting on new food
being available within a few weeks. Honestly this is a bet that
each hive must make if they are to survive and grow new bees to
replace the withered ones that lasted through the winter.
Surviving and Thriving During the cold days of December and
January, bees in my area completely shut down the rearing of new
bees (brood). In doing so, they are able to conserve energy and
honey stores by letting the temperature within the core of the
colony drop to 55-60 degrees. That all changes as soon as the
queen begins to lay eggs. In order for these new eggs and brood
to survive, the temperature in the inner colony is raised to
approximately 95 degrees. This can quickly consume the remaining
resources of the colony. Stacking the Deck As a beekeeper, this
is one of the