Preparing Bees For Winter Uk

Preparing the bees for winter.

Preparing bees for winter uk. Check the weight of the hive by hefting. Since we know winter is upon us we also know it is only a matter of time until it will be darker longer. Stores should be sufficient to last until the spring flowers arrive 3. The colony should have a young queen and plenty of bees.

Remove any part filled supers for re fitting later. Photo by deviant art. Preparing honeybees for winter. Winter patties these are great for your bees especially if they are clustering.

The winter hive is a delicate balance of helping the bees stay warm while not hindering air flow. By the time november comes the bees will go into a cluster and will rarely leave the hive. To minimize chilling the bottom of the hive use a specific entrance reducer or place a couple of pieces of 1 by 1 inch wood to allow only two to three inches open at the hive entrance. Look for eggs larvae and sealed brood.

Just place the winter patty on top of the frames and the bees can eat it without even leaving the cluster. If you do your homework now before winter when it finally arrives all the preparation pieces are in place and your bees have everything they need long before they need it. Check that the colony has a laying queen. Dont be so stuffy.

Of course the biggest problem honey bees have is that pesky varroa mite. It should be disease free and protected from pests and predators and. As the weather gets colder the bees will start preparing for winter you will see from your garden and outside spaces that the bees are not spending much time outside the hive. 10 steps to wintering bees to keep them alive even if youre in the northern climates 1.

So too for your bees. The optimum condition for a colony going into winter is. If youve been on top of things all summer you have been keeping the mite population in check by routinely trapping and removing them in drone brood. The colony clusters together to stay warm and protect the hive in winter.

Although spring may seem a long way ahead in september what you do to your bees in the autumn months will have a marked effect on how they over winter build up in spring and ultimately your honey crop next year. If there is no queen unite the colony to a.