finsky, what are the temps like when you start feeding for brood rearing? if i were to start feeding 2 months early, i'd have to start now because usually the fruit trees start blooming in march. January and February are still really cold here most years.
This my chedule here:
I start pollen patty feeding in the first week of April. It is time when
snow has smelted around hives and bees get water outside. When I have started too early that bees cannot get water outside, larvae will die and chalkbrood hits into hive.
That week is
3 weeks before willow starts to bloom. When first bees emerge, they get natural pollen to eat. When bees emerge they eate a lot pollen first 3 days. But I contue patty feeding untill apple blossom because bees like it. Willow pollen is light food. It's cride protein is 15% and they need over 20%.
In May it may be a week or two bad weather and bees need pollen every day to feed on larvae.
I give patty once a week 1-2 pound per hive. 50% of patty is sugar. So they need not syrup feeding.
Our weather is cold in April. Day may be +5C and nights -8C. SEldom bees come out. But when I feed and they come out, they are really thirsty. They are thousands taking water in icy ground in the morning.
Cold is not important but do they get water.
I use 15W electrict heating in spring and bees need not worry about temperature.
If you have no snow cover and it does not cover ground a couple of days more, it is safe to begin feed. You may arrange drinking water into hive.
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