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Post by James on Jan 8, 2016 15:45:32 GMT -5
"James, I've been wondering how you protect your hives during the winter. "
The bees remain in their hives. I don't move my hives. We make sure they have plenty of stores (Honey) and medicate them, and put in an entrance restriction block that reduces the size of the front entrance. The bees cluster in the hive and eat honey and vibrate a bit to generate some heat. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. In this harsh environment, we always plan on buying some package bees come Spring for replacements. One never knows what will come through winter. I have lost from none to all.
The folks who move bees to California will leave them there through the almond bloom, then they must move because once the almonds are done blooming, nothing left for the bees. So they shake off some packages and move the colonies, usually to clover country where they can make some summer honey.
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Post by James on Jan 18, 2016 19:42:34 GMT -5
Today 35 degrees and dripping a bit. I went out and looked at the bees and cleared the snow away from the front entries. Couldn't tell much about how they are doing. Been too cold for them to fly at all. Its great if we get a day now and then above 50 degrees so the bees can come out for a cleansing flight.
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Post by James on Feb 3, 2016 12:16:15 GMT -5
SpringRain: "James, I've been wondering how you protect your hives during the winter."
Keeping bees through winter in these cold climes is a tough project. It requires that the bees be built up strong in a two deep hive and have about 60 pounds of honey. Yes, they just cluster, eat honey and vibrate enough to generate some heat. If it warms up every few days so they can move onto new honey they will usually make it. It you get a prolonged cold and they can't move onto new honey and they use up all the honey in the cluster, they die. Getting ready for winter I just make sure they have stores and put in an entrance block to reduce the entrance size and wish them luck.
I have lost from all to none to winter. One just never knows. I have about decided I would just plan on getting packages in the Spring and not worry about wintering bees. That 60 pounds of honey left on the hive is worth $360 dollars if extracted, bottled and sold. A package of bees is only $90. If you leave that box of honey on a colony and the bees die, robbers will carry the honey off and you have lost it.
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Post by James on Feb 3, 2016 12:26:47 GMT -5
I went out to the bees yesterday. We have had a lot of snow. They were really snowed in. I took a shovel and removed snow from the entrances so the bees could have a free entrance for a little fresh air and in the event it warmed up to 50 degrees one day they can come out and fly. It was cold 14 degrees, so no bee activity. Can't say at this point if any are making winter or not.
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Post by James on Feb 3, 2016 13:58:43 GMT -5
Picture showing the entrance reducing block.
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Feb 17, 2016 14:41:08 GMT -5
I don't think mine made it this year. I only have one hive, and I saw them out earlier this year for a cleansing flight. We've had mild days over 50 degrees (we're actually getting a ton of flooding in this area b/c of the high temps) and no bees, soo.... :(
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Post by James on Feb 27, 2016 15:08:35 GMT -5
54 degrees today. I went out to look at the bees. No bees. All winter killed.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Feb 28, 2016 8:04:52 GMT -5
omg! Has your winter been bad? Sorry to hear...the time, expense and anticipation.
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Post by lisaann on Feb 28, 2016 17:16:22 GMT -5
No bees. All winter killed. Shoo..............Well, you were thinking along those lines and getting a new batch..........but, dang.
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Post by James on Mar 3, 2016 11:25:30 GMT -5
"James, I've been wondering how you protect your hives during the winter."
Wintering bees in this climate is a tough proposition. you would have them built up strong in a double deep hive, and at least 60 pounds of honey on them. Medicate for Nosema and treat for mites. Put in an entrance reducing block to reduce the entrance to 3/8 b 3 inches. Drill a 5/8 inch hole in the top box for a top entrance in case the bottom entrance gets plugged up. Walk away.
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Post by James on Mar 3, 2016 11:30:14 GMT -5
I have came to the conclusion that wintering bees is a losing proposition. That 60 pound box of honey I left on them is worth over $300 if extracted, bottled and sold. A new package only costs $90. So why bother? Extract the honey and buy new bees come spring, and push them for a box of honey.
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 3, 2016 11:32:54 GMT -5
So in other words, you took all of their honey and let them starve?
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Post by lisaann on Mar 3, 2016 19:11:51 GMT -5
So in other words, you took all of their honey and let them starve? oh............ James, Is that what it is? I'm getting confused. I'll go back to what I do best: Confusing others!
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Post by James on Mar 16, 2016 11:43:36 GMT -5
"James, I've been wondering how you protect your hives during the winter."
Wintering bees is a tough proposition in this country. No matter how you might prepare, they are likely to die. Basically it requires a good sized cluster, with plenty of stores (honey to eat for energy) medicate for foulbrood and treat for mites. Put in an entrance restricting block to reduce the entrance size. drill a 5/8 inch hole in the upper box for an upper entrance in case the lower entrance gets clogged up with snow/ice, leaves etc. Wish them luck and walk away!
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Post by James on Mar 25, 2016 17:12:46 GMT -5
Quote: "James, I've been wondering how you protect your hives during the winter."
I used to try to winter bees, but the losses were always great no matter how well they were prepared. Finally I decided to heck with wintering bees, just extract the honey and buy packages come spring. Used to leave a 60 pound box of honey on a hive going into winter for their winter food. That 60 pounds of honey is worth $360 at $6 a pound. A package of bees costs about $90.
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