 Days will be colder and the bees won’t fly as much. The queen may have stopped laying eggs by now as the entire colony is in their cluster position. Propolis Seals – Bee especially careful about cracking open hives with brittle propolis as it will not get warm enough for those seals, carefully placed by the bees, to mesh together again. Painters Tape is often a good backup should getting into supers be necessary. Feeders still on? Bees need to be able to fly to do cleansing flights when you’re feeding sugar syrup. If the feeders are still on, think about taking them off. Glass will freeze and break. Bees will not have time in cold months to reduce syrup to honey. If feeding is necessary, consider winter patties, sugar bricks, or fondant. Types of Winter Feed Think about getting your winter feed together. We are recommending ‘sugar bricks’ this winter: 1 lb dry, white sugar to 1 tablespoon water, let dry overnight. There are lots of ways to overwinter: Read more here. If you plan to use protein patties, ‘Winter Patties’ are recommended with less protein to avoid stimulating brood production. Be sure to get them ordered so when your bees need them you can put them on. Storing Drawn Frames Make sure your stored drawn comb is protected from wax moths. It is heart breaking to see all that drawn comb ruined that your bees worked so hard to make. Storing frames in the cold will kill wax moths. Exposure at 20 degrees F will kill them after 4 ½ hrs. To Wrap or Not To Wrap Hives get wrapped by Thanksgiving weekend. Wrap and or insulate per your preference. Those Pesky Mice… and Voles etc. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to put your mouse guards on – but make sure a mouse does not get trapped inside. Look inside the entrance with a flashlight. A mouse could cause severe damage over the winter. Winter Winds If your hives are out in the open, consider creating a wind break if you did not plan your apiary location with this in mind. |
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