Hi Folks,
Plymouth county, Massachusetts here. Regular warm weather here until about nine days ago. Bees regularly out and about, with nothing to do. I set out sieves drizzled with honey on a few of those warm days. I've kept the sugar inside the hives. I had lots of bees ten days ago. I haven't disrupted the boxes since October (I apiguarded in September), just to pop the top for sugar. We're all concerned about running out of food.
My concern also is for moisture! It has been regularly in the 50's, with little precipitation. I have two hives. I insulated the sides slightly with landscape fabric (very breathable), and, I put a super with about 3 inches of wood shavings below my sbb, and one also above my inner cover. Entrances are reduced and "sheltered". I have small screened vent holes on the inner cover and the bees have been active at that hole when it has been warm. I think it has good, slow, consistent movement of air up and through the hive. It's dry as popcorn in the hive.
Should I be worried about too little moisture? It's in the single digits at night. Might hit 50's this coming weekend. How would you even "water" bees now?
Thanks,
Salvo
Or,,, should I tell you in the spring whether it was a good idea?