Winter Prep in the South?

Matt J · September 20, 2016, 12:21:05 AM

Got a few questions I was hoping those with climates similar to Central Alabama could help with.

1. What time of year (Month) or temperature range do you switch from 1:1 to 2:1?

2. What temp would you switch from 2:1 to candy boards, dry sugar, etc. if necessary?

3. What temperature can I feel safe opening the hive occasionally in the winter to check stores? I know lifting the back of the hive is preferred, but I really don't know what it feels like when they "have enough".

4. My inner covers don't have notches for ventilation. Should I cut them, or is there an easier way to assist in moisture removal?

Any other winter tips specific for the South would be greatly appreciated!

heidi.k.cummins · September 20, 2016, 12:52:46 AM

1. Now if low on stores
2. Below 50f
3. Above 50f
4. Not sure.

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Rurification · September 20, 2016, 09:26:11 AM

For your ventilation question, you can put a penny in 2 corners under your inner cover. That will leave just enough space for ventilation, no cuts necessary.

GSF · September 20, 2016, 09:55:55 AM

Hey Matt, I'm feeding 2:1 now but I am fixing to back off. I wasn't expecting a fall flow due to the drought around my place. I don't ventilate but I think the penny thing is probably a good idea. I have looked through the entrance on a very cold morning and saw ice trails on the side of the bottom super. Our beek president say's he will go in at 50 degrees but it will be very quick. We got until mid to late Nov to help them store up.

Matt J · September 20, 2016, 11:26:00 AM

Quote from: GSF on September 20, 2016, 09:55:55 AM
Hey Matt, I'm feeding 2:1 now but I am fixing to back off. I wasn't expecting a fall flow due to the drought around my place. I don't ventilate but I think the penny thing is probably a good idea. I have looked through the entrance on a very cold morning and saw ice trails on the side of the bottom super. Our beek president say's he will go in at 50 degrees but it will be very quick. We got until mid to late Nov to help them store up.

Thanks Gary. I guess I'll look at switching to 2:1 soon. I saw a bunch of goldenrod blooming this morning, so that should help.

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bwallace23350 · September 20, 2016, 11:36:09 AM

Thanks. All good information. With this golden rod bloom fixing to happen I am not worried about their stores for the time being.

BeeMaster2 · September 20, 2016, 12:37:24 PM

"3. What temperature can I feel safe opening the hive occasionally in the winter to check stores? I know lifting the back of the hive is preferred, but I really don't know what it feels like when they "have enough". "
Matt,
If you have an empty hive and some drawn frames, set it up like your other hives are and feel how light it is. Then add known weights to it and then feel how much it feels.
Make sure the front of your hives are all about at the same location on the platform so that you are comparing like for like.
Jim

Matt J · September 20, 2016, 02:23:09 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on September 20, 2016, 12:37:24 PM
"3. What temperature can I feel safe opening the hive occasionally in the winter to check stores? I know lifting the back of the hive is preferred, but I really don't know what it feels like when they "have enough". "
Matt,
If you have an empty hive and some drawn frames, set it up like your other hives are and feel how light it is. Then add known weights to it and then feel how much it feels.
Make sure the front of your hives are all about at the same location on the platform so that you are comparing like for like.
Jim

Great idea. Thanks!

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BeeMaster2 · September 20, 2016, 09:13:21 PM

NP

Matt J · September 20, 2016, 09:26:28 PM

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KeyLargoBees · September 20, 2016, 10:57:18 PM

Here is a question from someone who doesnt "do" winter......are you feeding because the ladies didn't gather enough or because you were a little too greedy when you robbed the hives and didnt leave them enough ? ;-)

GSF · September 21, 2016, 08:20:00 AM

Here is a question from someone who doesnt "do" winter......are you feeding because the ladies didn't gather enough or because you were a little too greedy when you robbed the hives and didnt leave them enough ? ;-)

all three (lol)

Around here they preach the two things that kills most of the hives in the winter are mites & starving.
Compared to our northern beeks we have a lot of flying days. That equates to stores being consumed. Unfortunately there's nothing for them to gather so they start going into the negative territory, in addition there's the ever popular spring build up which also burns up stores.

We can feed during the cold months but that creates a moisture problem.

Matt J · September 21, 2016, 08:50:59 AM

Quote from: KeyLargoBees on September 20, 2016, 10:57:18 PM
Here is a question from someone who doesnt "do" winter......are you feeding because the ladies didn't gather enough or because you were a little too greedy when you robbed the hives and didnt leave them enough ? ;-)

I my case, I did not take any honey. Next year I hope to not feed, but my packages were delayed 2 weeks due to rain, and the Nuc I bought wasn't until Memorial Day, so I missed most of the spring flow. And during our dearth, they had basically nothing, so I fed to help them along. Right now both hives are pretty much 2 mediums and they are putting some syrup away, just very slowly. I am trying like crazy to get them to fill a third medium on each hive going into winter.

It is amazing what just happened here in Alabama. We hadn't had any rain to speak of and things were REALLY dry! My grass had even started to brown up, which I haven't seen in quite some time. Last weekend, we got basically a day and a half of rain, and the Goldenrod popped! I really think we could benefit from one more good day of rain, which might come this weekend.

It's funny, I've never paid so much attention to weeds on the side of the road.

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Acebird · September 21, 2016, 09:53:42 AM

Quote from: Rurification on September 20, 2016, 09:26:11 AM
For your ventilation question, you can put a penny in 2 corners under your inner cover. That will leave just enough space for ventilation, no cuts necessary.

I think with such a small crack on three sides they will propolize it. I would go ahead and cut a 3/4 notch in the bottom of the inner cover and use is summer and winter.

Michael Bush · September 21, 2016, 10:49:04 AM

>1. What time of year (Month) or temperature range do you switch from 1:1 to 2:1?

I would never feed 1:1. I'd feed 2:1 if I could get it to dissolve, but since I can't I'll feed 5:3.

>2. What temp would you switch from 2:1 to candy boards, dry sugar, etc. if necessary?

When the syrup never warms to 50 F.

>3. What temperature can I feel safe opening the hive occasionally in the winter to check stores? I know lifting the back of the hive is preferred, but I really don't know what it feels like when they "have enough".

Honey is very heavy. Bees are not. You will be able to tell when they are out of stores. It will feel like empty boxes.

>4. My inner covers don't have notches for ventilation. Should I cut them, or is there an easier way to assist in moisture removal?

Moist air rises. Let it out the top.

Matt J · September 21, 2016, 11:58:29 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on September 21, 2016, 10:49:04 AM
>1. What time of year (Month) or temperature range do you switch from 1:1 to 2:1?

I would never feed 1:1. I'd feed 2:1 if I could get it to dissolve, but since I can't I'll feed 5:3.

>2. What temp would you switch from 2:1 to candy boards, dry sugar, etc. if necessary?

When the syrup never warms to 50 F.

>3. What temperature can I feel safe opening the hive occasionally in the winter to check stores? I know lifting the back of the hive is preferred, but I really don't know what it feels like when they "have enough".

Honey is very heavy. Bees are not. You will be able to tell when they are out of stores. It will feel like empty boxes.

>4. My inner covers don't have notches for ventilation. Should I cut them, or is there an easier way to assist in moisture removal?

Moist air rises. Let it out the top.

Thanks Michael! I will have to try the 5:3.

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Matt J · September 21, 2016, 11:59:41 AM

I opened the hives this morning to check my jars, and they were not empty after 3 days. They had been taking up to a quart a day in August. Must be getting it elsewhere.

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bwallace23350 · September 21, 2016, 04:24:43 PM

Thanks for all the good information. It has really helped. I have not been feeding since I first got them in the Spring and they have been doing fine it appears and growing. Perhaps I should have fed them but I probably will over the winter but I don't plan on robbing any honey or just maybe a frame or so if I do.

cao · September 21, 2016, 05:18:51 PM

Quote from: Matt J on September 21, 2016, 08:50:59 AM
It's funny, I've never paid so much attention to weeds on the side of the road.

Ain't that the truth.

Anytime I'm driving, I find myself checking out what's blooming. After 5 years with bees I realize that I didn't know very much about plants before.

bwallace23350 · September 22, 2016, 09:29:29 AM

When should I start to ventilate my hives?