Winter Prep

 11/14/2014

What we've done.

Feeding

   We did harvest a fully capped medium super of honey from both the Blue and Green hives in late September.  Total of 58 lbs. I began to feed these hives immediately after that. I wanted to make sure that the bees had enough Winter stores. Once they reduced their intake of 5:3 sugar syrup, I removed the hive top feeders. The hives had plenty of capped syrup honey in the both 8 frame deeps and were very heavy. The nuc had the upper 2 five frame levels of 3 filled with honey. 

Closing them up 

   The weather is predicted to be very cold for this time of year, so I made a decision to close the bees up for the Winter. I installed a 1 1/2" spacer, a 4 lb. sugar block, reversed inner cover with 1/16 inch ventilation all around and a closed off inner cover notch. I also installed a 2" foam insulation under the outer cover. These bees were also just treated with a oxalic acid vaporization for varroa mites. I'm also going to open the upper exit for more ventilation as soon as robbing is unlikely. Maybe tomorrow. I will do 1 more oxalic acid vaporization treatment after Thanksgiving when brood should be minimal or non-existent. I plan to check monthly or more often as weather permits for remaining food supply. I'm going to miss working the bees over the Winter!

   I also installed on the North side of the hives a double layer of Snow fence" This will break the wind from the North. Now only the East is exposed. The hives are not wrapped with any tar paper or insulation material. 

   I have ordered and just received from Mann Lake and Kelley bees some equipment that we will need in Spring 2015 for increase, if our bees survive. I have 3 new Mann lake hive top feeders which I modify to prevent excess comb being drawn in the bottom of the feeder. We also got some top covers, inner covers, frames, etc. etc. I now have enough supplies to make 3 more complete hives plus numerous nucs. Well, I can always put together and paint hive bodies and build frames on those cold nasty days ahead of us. We try to buy supplies a little at a time trying to anticipate future needs. That lessens the sting of the cost. Can't wait till Spring!

 After Thanksgiving!

 I did use Oxalic acid vaporization as a final varroa mite treatment for the year. This involves a tool that will heat oxalic acid until it vaporizes and spreads the vaporized acid through out the hive. It is supposed to kill exposed mites but not harm the bees. By this time of year there is likely little to no capped brood which protects varroa mites within the brood cells. All of the mites should be exposed on adult bees making them suseptable to the oxalic acid treatment. Oxalic acid is in spinach, rhubarb and of course oxalis plants. We'll see how the bees manage through the Winter as the two most common causes of hive loss over the Winter is starvation or varroa mites.

   I am also making plans during the Winter to make sure that I have adequate equipment for Spring. Ruth and I have already signed up for a BurghBees class for second year beekeepers in early March. Year 2 is going to be more demanding than the first year, but the rewards could be proportional to the effort expended.

January 17, 2015

  Checked sugar blocks and added where needed. There was not much consumed and I believe that the bees were just using the sugar because it was there. All bees were generally clustered in the lower hive body.

March 4, 2015

   Started to worry about the bees as it has been awhile since the last check. The weather just wouldn't cooperate when I had the time. I replaced the sugar blocks as needed. I was surprised at how many bees were in all of the hives. They have so far survived a particularly brutal winter. It's still early and most hive deaths take place in the late winter/early spring so extra inspection is required.

March 16, 2015

   Another check of the hives while the weather gave an opportunity. None of the 3 hives are on the same schedule as far as sugar consumption. That's why I'm checking frequently this time of year. The hives still look very good. There is little to no pollen coming in thus far, so I'm going to add pollen substitute patties soon. The Red Maples are close to blooming and crocus started blooming with the 67° day that we had. We need those maples as they are a very good supplier of both pollen and nectar.

   So far everything looks good. I fully expect that all 3 hives will survive this winter if I do my part until they can sustain themselves.