Most European ants wake up from the end of February until end of March. When temperature is raising. So you can wake them up slowly now. Raise the temperature slowly the next days and they will wake up just fine.
Hi my ants are Lasius Niger.I have ten workers and a queen and I can see eggs in the tube.They arrived in October.As soon as they arrived I put some honey in the little bowl and they had loads of it.But when they were done they went back into the tube and went into hibernation.They have been asleep ever since.Two days ago I put some honey in and they woke up and went mad drinking it.As soon as they were done they went back into the tube again and have been there ever since.The only way they way they wake up is when I put food in.What shall I do to wake them up fully?
Do you keep them at room temperature? Probably they are already awake but you don't see them very often because they come out at night to avoid any risks, it is still a small colony and every worker is of great value.
Lasius niger are slow movers so it could take a while before they move into your farm. Feed them insects to, they need the protein.
Like antlord said, they come out at night most of the time, if the colony is bigger you will see them more often.