How to prepare beehives for the winter.
Winter is a difficult time for bees, especially if their hives are not properly prepared. This is the time of year when most losses happen. If we take the necessary care in the summer and spring, we can be fully prepared for the coming winter. 20-40% colonial losses are common during severe winters, so do not be disappointed with the loss. Be busy and slow. This blog will have great information for all emerging beekeepers.
Winter nest preparation varies greatly from place to place. The emergence of snow, cold winds, and, in some cases, even rain is a factor that requires dedication and adjustment to keep the locusts alive and without loss. Cold air infiltration into beehives can cause cooling and even death of worms.
However, we have listed some safety and security measures that beekeepers can take during the fall below.
Transporting beehives.
You will need to transfer bees to sunny, well-lit areas during the winter to protect them from strong winter winds. When transferring, make sure you choose a location at least 3 miles (4.8kms) from where you started because otherwise, if you do not use the reconfiguration methods, employees may become confused and return to their original location.
Protection from Barros larvae.
Check for Barros larvae during the autumn (September-October in most areas). If the number of worms increases, you may need to take drastic measures. In winter, Mother Nature will deliberately reduce the number of bees in the colony so that it has fewer energy needs and more life expectancy.
However, the number of worms cannot be reduced by the same number. Skipping this step may lead to a higher rate of “mosquitoes and bees” in the winter.
Queen of bees in winter.
Do a regular nest test and look for a new, productive queen in the nest. Having a young and prosperous queen is essential for good growth during the fall and the survival of the colony during the winter.
During the fall, the queen is said to lay many eggs, from which thousands of workers will emerge. Unlike workers who come out of the spring and live for an average of 6 weeks, these workers will live an average of 4-5 months and end up burning the nest and burning the queen.
In late autumn, the queen is genetically to stop laying eggs until the following spring. Thus, her ability to lay eggs in the fall is perhaps the most important factor in the survival of the colony.
Reduce space.
Although the nest area increases in spring and summer, space is growing. In winter, bees thrive in small areas. As a general rule, in regions with long, strong winters, we often need to have a smaller area than the number of people living in the nests.
Our goal is to create less space than the number of people living in hives, as bees will need less energy to burn their home. Moreover, in this way, the invaders will find a small area and, therefore, discouraged from entering the nest. Many beekeepers remove all residues in late autumn.
Consolidation of colonies.
It forms a combination of weak and strong colonies. According to the motto of older beekeepers, it is better to have two strong colonies in the spring than one dead. This is the time of year (autumn) when you may need to combine weak and strong colonies (never combine two weak colonies).
The practice of feeding.
Check regularly for food stocks. The best winter food honey they produce and store. There is a lot of controversy about the small amount of honey needed in the winter.
After all, a strong winter colony is the basis of a strong and healthy colony with enough pollen in the spring. As a beekeeper, you can leave a lot of honey in the children's room and / or add some harvested honey with sugar water. Remember that sugary sugars can cause diarrhea.
Preventing nest entry.
Beekeepers should block the hive doors so that rats and other invaders will not be able to enter. Many beekeepers also separate their hives by wrapping them in special tar paper or with a simple paper cover. It is always advisable to leave a suitable entrance because good ventilation is needed for the bees to survive, so you should leave a small window.
However, in some cases, this method causes a rapid increase in humidity inside the nest, and you should take care of this. You can also use mouse guards with special cords to block access.
Avoid heat.
Do not open the nest during the cold winter days, no matter how anxious you are. The heat will come out quickly, and the bees will need a lot of effort and energy to do this heat again. Use common sense. Turn on for less than a minute and only if the temperature rises above certain degrees.
A clean check is required.
It is a good idea to regularly inspect and clean the area around the nests to find unwanted debris and vegetation. For example, if a cat, little hedgehog, or raccoon dies somewhere near the nests and is not removed, the smell will certainly attract more people who may enter our colonies (mice, insects, etc.).
Having a clean environment ensures. Cleanliness and does not provide a safe haven for potential victims. This works all year round, but our colonies are most vulnerable to winter invaders.
Considering the above points, we can say that it is important to leave the hives strong and fed in the winter so that they can grow without problems as soon as spring emerges. Although, it takes a certain amount of knowledge to help bees in winter. Every colony is different, so it is important to develop information about what your bees need in their environment.
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