We've had very mild temps since I placed the foam shells around my 8 hives, our pond which was frozen over a few days ago is open again as of today, November 18, almost unheard of in these parts.
Today it was 54F so I "open fed" about 3 gallons of 3-1 syrup. I just looked and its half gone already w/ all 8 colonies actively pursuing it.
Finski; I Know, I Know, you don't think kindly toward Open Feeding, but if my bees are flying w/ temps in the fifties, I'm doing it anyway :)