Winter Tips

Winter Bees.jpg
 
 

WINTERIZING TIPS

Here are some items to consider to prepare your bee hives for a winter: 

  1. Check for Varroa Mites or Parasites, treat as needed

  2. Look at the amount of capped honey in the housing boxes. This is what the bees will be eating through the first part of the winter. Brood box should weigh 60 lb or more.

  3. Using shims ensure tilt so that moisture travels down the sides of the hive

  4. Make candy boards (See details below)

  5. Install candy boards

  6. Install moisture boxes

  7. Place entrance reducers and/or mouse guards in to prevent rodents from slipping in

  8. Put in windbreaks to prevent snow drifting

  9. Take super boxes off and store them in a safe place

After this checklist is complete, it’s time to close up the hives for the winter. And when you do this, make sure there’s plenty of ventilation, or air flow, coming through for the bees.

 

Temperature Guide

Temperature Guide

MAKING BEE CANDY

 16 lbs of sugar

3 Cups of Water

1 T of White Vinegar (To prevent mold)

Poor all the sugar into a large bowl. Mix vinegar and water together. Slowly pour in the liquid and stir. Don’t dump it in all at once. 

  • Because you want the consistency of your sugar candy to be very thick so it can set well. The harder the better. Once the candy boards are hard and set, you can install them into the hives.

  • Use 1/4 inch strips to help support the candy boards. Set the wood strips on the frames. You want it to be in about the middle so that the center of the candy boards can be supported. Then, set the candy board on top. Fit the frame of the candy board to the frame of the hive. Make sure the entrance hole is in the front.

  • Put the Inner Cover and Outside Top Cover back on securely.

  • Install the candy board on a nice 40-50 degree day.

 

MAKE A WINTER MAINTENANCE PLAN

  1. Check the entrances to ensure they are not blocked and are allowing proper ventilation, especially following a big snow

  2. Make additional candy to replenish later in the season if needed.

  3. Monitor moisture box and replace material if needed.

  4. Continue your Beekeeping education

    1. Read

    2. Attend educational classes

    3. Meet up with like minded BKs

  5. Fix broken material

  6. Build new equipment/material: boxes, swarm traps, frames, covers …

  7. Plan to order your bees (Boxes or Nuks)in late December or early January