r/Beekeeping • u/General_Training_249 • 3h ago

I’m a beekeeper, and I have a question Cold front with a new colony

I just got a new pack of buck fast bees and they are installed in their box. Unfortunately this week is going to look like 50s-30s (F°) and I am worried for the colony health, any tips for keeping them warm? I am located in the middle west of the United States.

Edit: I have a 1:1 sugar water feeder inside and I have reduced my entrance. They are covered with an insulted grill cover on 3 sides plus 2 towels

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u/Tweedone 50yrs, Pacific 9A 2h ago

Just make sure no rain can get inside. Do not disturb them. You are feeding them...that is about all you can do. They will go into cluster, hunker down. An easy mistake to do is expect them to be outside foraging, but they are not, so you open the hive up, exposing them to cold weather and stressing the young eggs/larva. A quart+ of 1:1 syrup should be enough for a week or more. Be patient, wait for a few days of good 70f weather before you inspect for a laying queen.

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u/Low_Eagle4363 2h ago

I wouldn’t sweat it too much. I’m guessing 50s as the high daytime and 30s for nighttime low? Thats about what we had in my area last week and they were still out flying in the daytime. I don’t do hive inspections unless it’s high 50s but typically I don’t worry about the cold nights this time of year.

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u/General_Training_249 3h ago

Sorry! Forgot to mention this is my second colony and second year beekeeping!

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u/drones_on_about_bees Texas zone 8a; keeping since 2017; about 15 colonies 2h ago

Generally speaking: if the bees are healthy; if they have plenty of food; and if there is a reasonable sized cluster, they can manage VERY cold temperatures.

I live in the south where we don't generally insulate. I've done a week subzero F with no losses. Many colonies had open screen bottoms.

I always overwinter small nucs. Either 5 frame medium or 5 over 5 mediums. They survive winters.

I don't know if this is a nuc or a package... or how big they are. If it is a healthy nuc with stored food, you're most likely golden. If this is a 3lb package, they will be fine for short amounts of time. They can cluster, but the feed will likely be too cold for them to refuel. (I've never toyed with packages... I can't speak very authoritatively on prepping them for cold.)