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All beekeepers know how important it is to prepare bees for winter. This is due to the fact that the process of winter preparation is the main and most crucial moment in any apiary. In the autumn period, the concentration of carbon dioxide begins to increase significantly, the bees begin to age, and as a result of low temperature conditions, these processes are aggravated. That is why it is recommended to organize wintering for bees in such a way as to minimize the number of deaths. In addition, insects during the winter period retain health and energy for the spring flight.
How bees prepare for winter
As a rule, the swarming process comes to an end in August. It is during this period of time that drones become a burden for the bee colony, and at the same time they consume honey, which is much more valuable at this time. Since insects begin the process of preparing for wintering, they try in every possible way to save honey, as a result of which the drones are expelled from the hive. Undoubtedly, this could have been done much earlier, but, as practice shows, during the period of increased honey collection there is no time for this.
Bees are in many ways similar to people and, on the eve of severe cold, they try to insulate their homes as best as possible. Insects try not only to protect their hive from the cold, but also from the penetration of other insects that want to steal food supplies.
In the autumn, insects use propolis to seal all existing cracks and reduce the entrances. At such moments, the entrance to the hive is guarded even at night, as the bees are afraid of honey being stolen from outside. The bees become very aggressive, as a result of which they can even attack a puppy running nearby.
A set of measures to prepare bee colonies for wintering
If a mistake is made in the process of preparing bee colonies for wintering, then mass mortality can be observed. To eliminate this problem, it is recommended to adhere to some basic rules during preparatory work:
- provide the necessary amount of feed stock. In order for the bee colony to survive the cold season without loss, not to be exposed to diseases and to begin flying around with sufficient strength and energy, it is necessary to provide about 25-30 kg of honey and beebread for each hive. In some cases, the use of sugar syrup is allowed;
- An integral process of preparing bee colonies for winter is meeting the deadlines for the growth of young insects. Measures must be taken to ensure that the queen of the hive stops laying eggs by the end of August;
- Only strong bee colonies must be sent into winter, otherwise they may die.As a rule, in this case, many beekeepers prefer to unite a weak colony with a stronger one;
- Before the onset of cold weather, the hives must be completely insulated, and a ventilation system must be organized. If you plan to leave insects outside, then the insulation layer should be at least 15 cm.
By following these rules, you can not be afraid of death and illness.
How to prepare bees for winter
In order to properly prepare bees for wintering, it is important to understand that all work must be carried out before the onset of frost. During the scheduled autumn inspection, it is recommended to check how prepared the hives are for the upcoming cold weather. In order to draw the right conclusions and prepare everything correctly in the future, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- the age of the queen of the hive - the amount of brood depends on her;
- the amount of brood - this moment has a significant impact on the degree of readiness of the bee colony for the upcoming winter;
- quantity and quality of honey and bee bread reserves;
- suitability of honeycombs in the hive;
- the condition of insects, the number of individuals exposed to the disease.
Thus, in beekeeping, preparation for winter begins with an audit, as a result of which the beekeeper identifies all the weaknesses of the hives and draws up a plan for further work in the apiary to eliminate existing shortcomings. Many experts advise preparing bees for the cold immediately after the last bribe has been completed. It is recommended to be as careful as possible while performing work so as not to disrupt the life cycle of insects.
Which bees go into winter
Beekeepers begin preparing bees for winter from the beginning of August. During this period of time, not only the hives, but also the bee colonies themselves are carefully inspected. During such examinations, weak and infected families are identified. If insects are susceptible to disease, treatment must be taken immediately, otherwise the bees will not survive the winter.
Strong families with the young queen of the hive should leave during the winter. It often happens that there are weak colonies in the apiary; in such cases, they must be combined with other insects to allow the bees to survive.
How to prepare bees for wintering in August
As practice shows, beekeepers begin preparing bees for winter in August. During this period of time, it is necessary to monitor which plants insects collect pollen from for further processing. This is due to the fact that there is a possibility that insects will bring heather or honeydew honey into the hive. If such products are discovered, they must be immediately removed from the hive.
If bees eat honeydew honey in winter, they will develop diarrhea, which leads to mass death. Heather honey hardens quite quickly and becomes unsuitable for consumption.
During the same period of time, it is recommended to examine bee colonies to identify weak and sick insects.
How to prepare bees for winter in September
The preparation of bees for winter continues in September. It is necessary to perform the following work in the apiary:
- check the amount of feed reserves and replenish them if necessary;
- preliminary study of the types of houses and further location to create a comfortable winter quarters;
- if necessary, treat the hive;
- check the condition of the hive queen.
After all the work in the apiary is completed, you can send the insects for the winter.
How to prepare bees in winter for a warm drift
In the spring, when all the honeycomb frames in the nest were filled with honey, the honey collection came to an end, it is recommended to change the drift to a warm one at the end of summer. As a rule, this work is carried out in early August, as a result of which the insects have sufficient time to prepare the nest and food supplies according to their needs.
During transfer, it is recommended to make several holes in each honeycomb frame. This is necessary so that insects have the opportunity to move around the hive to the rear walls during the winter. During nest formation, it is recommended to place honeycomb frames with food supplies at an angle. Honeycomb frames, which contain the most honey, are usually placed closest to the back walls; frames filled half or less are closer to the center.
Preparing the apiary for winter
Undoubtedly, preparing bee colonies for winter is an important point, but do not forget about preparing the apiary, namely the hives. As a rule, it is necessary to form nests before the onset of cold weather. In this case, it is worth choosing the moment when the insects begin to cluster.
The honeycomb frames and the degree to which they are filled with food deserve special attention.Since bees are at rest in the winter, each step will be quite difficult for them, as a result of which they may die if there is no food in the immediate vicinity. As a rule, honeycomb frames are filled completely and installed around the perimeter of the hive.
You can form nests in several ways:
- on both sides - an excellent option for strong families. 2 frames are placed in the center, each containing 2 kg of honey. Around these frames, another hundred frames are installed, which already have 4 kg of honey. There should be a total of 30 kg of honey;
- corner method - a frame completely filled with honey is placed on one edge, and other frames are placed behind it, which are filled with a much smaller amount of food. At the extreme end there should be at least 2.5 kg of honey;
- beard - in the center there is a honeycomb frame completely filled with honey, descending frames are placed from it. In total, the hive should contain 15 kg of honey. This method is used mainly for young families.
To make the bees feel as comfortable as possible, it is necessary to install additional wooden blocks. These are peculiar landmarks located perpendicular to the honeycomb frames.
Conclusion
Preparing bees for winter is a crucial moment that should be given due attention. Preparations begin from the beginning of August and end in September. The quality of preparatory work completely affects the wintering comfort of insects.
