Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
Beekeeping
Topic Started: Apr 28 2011, 09:55 PM (1,019 Views)
Ray

Slideshow worked for me, fascinating stuff!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Phaedrus
Member Avatar

This week I am preparing my hives for the winter.
Many hives are lost over winter and it would be no surprise to any beekeeper if I lose both colonies over the next few months. A local beek lost all 10 of his colonies last year and my mentor had a number of dead outs too.

In both my hives, the bees are in a single box. They need to have filled at least two boxes to see them over winter on their own, so I will have to feed them.

I made some bee candy and this will sit on top of the bees, providing an easily accessible source of food.
Like this:
http://www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/putting_candy_on_warre_hives.htm

The smaller colony haven`t even filled the box they are in, so i`ll put a board in to exclude the void and effectively shrink their box. This will give them a smaller space to make it easier to keep their cluster warm.

Thats all I can do. Apart from putting mouse guards over the entrances (which I`ve already done), not opening the hives, and making sure the entrances don`t get blocked with snow, its just a case of crossing fingers and hope they make it.

My first season has been a big learning curve. I have plans for next season. I`ll be putting several bait hives out here and there and hope to have at least 4 hives next year all being well.





Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ray

Hope they make it over winter OK Trev
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · General Chat · Next Topic »
Add Reply