Basic rules to winter bees in cold north like Alaska or Finland

[Finski]

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Bees, Italians and Carniolans live even on Polar Cirle but at least in my environment nothing gives mercy. Even if you try to "nurse" unlucky hive during winter, thing go only worse.

Basic rule is: load the wintering and let them hibernate in peace.

1) the most important thing is that you have a bee stock which react at right time that autumn is coming. It stops laying and broodrearing.

If the colony continues brooding after September, it will be dead in December.

2) hives consume on average 20 kg sugar per hive from September to May.
That is an amount what the langstroth boxx can take in.

3) before winter food feeding take extra space off from hive. So bees need not warm up the empty space. Respiration moisture condensates in if room is very large.

4) to save wintering food use insulated hive. Wrapping is not inough. Uninsulated hive use 50% more food than insulated. Mesh floor adds food consuption.

5) i do not feed bees in winter because i cannot. Feeding only disturb hibernating.

6) colonies must be big enough when you try winter them.

7) i use 20% spare hives to compensate losses. Very seldom they starve. Queen problems and nosema problems are most common.



*** i know lots of beekeepers who have never problems and their colonies never die. I do not trust those guys, not  at all.




To save the

[T Beek]

Thanks Finski, that's all good advise.  I've got a hive right now that feels light compared to others and its too cold to do anything about it right now without risking their death. 

This is a dilema I face each winter.  There is much conflicting advise over wraping (I used to, but no longer due to moisture issues), but may consider it agin, just diferent methods.  I do cover tops with rigid insulation, but that's all.

While we don't get as cold as you do we come very close (although this has been a mild winter compared to averages) so I am always interested in your advise and what it is you're doing to "keep" bees alive.  Thanks again.

thomas

[Grid]

Yes, thanks Finski.  Being in Canada, I watch for your posts.  They help.

I overwinter with 2 deeps or 3 mediums, an wrap with the Bee Cozy, with 1 1/2" x 1/4" (4 cm x 0.5 cm) vent hole at the very top, under 2" of foam insulation on top of the inner cover.  Closed/solid bottom boards, entrance reducer on medium.  It has worked well for me so far.  Last year, no losses.  I will probably lose 2 hives this year, as they were late starts and were very light on stores going into the winter.  I have put 10 lbs dry sugar with a pollen patty on each hive ala Mountaincamp.  We will see if any of them need it.  Come on spring!  Go bees!

:)
Grid

[Finski]

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It is not low temperatures which affect. The lenght of the winter is one. In my place willows start blooming first of May. Summer yield stops 10.8. Hives must be feeded 15.9.

Cleansing flights are in first half of Marsh.

What ever but locally adapted bee stock is above all.

[T Beek]

 8-)LOCAL BEES AND QUEENS RULE :-D

thomas