Getting your bees through winter

Presented by Rick BledsoeOctober 8, 2015

Causes of winter losses:

Starvation Excessive moisture

Temperature fluctuations Weak hive

Strong winds Sick bees

Old comb Blocked entrance

Mice Neglect

Starvation

Prevention:– build up stores

- don't take off too much honey- fall feeding of 2:1 sugar syrup

Winter feeding:– dry or solid sugar

- “Mountain Camp” method- fondant- sugar blocks

Shim for feeding

Excessive moisture

Bees exhale a lot of moisture. If there is inadequate ventilation, condensation can form on cover and drip on bees.

Allow for airflow in hive, but not a cold draft.

A notch in your inner cover where it meets the outer cover will allow moisture to vent.

- Some beekeepers use a “quilt box.”

Temperature Fluctuations

At 40F bees can break their cluster and move to new stores.

To keep out cold:

- windbreaks

- don't open hive when it's cold

- no reason to pull frames or move boxes in winter (breaks propolis seals)

Some beekeepers in northern climates wrap their hives

Weak Hive

– requeen in August / combine hives in August or later

Two weak hives will not make it through winter.One strong hive can make it through winter and be strong enough for an early split the next spring..

Take your losses in the fall

Sick Bees

- Monitor and treat/manage for pests and diseases

- Varroa mites weaken bees and carry viruses that can kill off a hive in winter

- Regardless of management style, you should know your varroa count going into winter

- Fall is a good time for some varroa treatments

Strong winds

Hives need a windbreak- trees- bales of straw- building

Old comb

Pesticides can accumulate over time.

Replace it: a schedule of replacing 25% of brood comb each year will ensure no comb is over four years old.

Blocked entrance

Imirie Shim

Top Entrance

Mice

Neglect:don't abandon your hives

Causes of winter losses:

Starvation Excessive moisture

Temperature fluctuations Weak hive

Strong winds Sick bees

Old comb Blocked entrance

Mice Neglect

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