Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Preparing for wintering bees in Florida

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Preparing Entrance reducers: Not only will entrance reducers help keep the warmth in the hive, they will hinder robbing behavior. Colonies can get weak in the winter, and stronger neighbors will take advantage of that fact. Solid bottom boards: While they are not essential, if temperatures get very low and you have the equipment, it doesn’t hurt to provide that extra layer of protection. This is not a practical solution for sideline or commercial beekeepers, but if you’re worried your hive is getting too much weather, its one small step you can take. You can also fashion solid bottom boards by sticking a piece of cardboard or similar material over the screen of your screened bottom board. .

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Preparing Check for nectar and honey stores early: Don’t let them starve. The trick in the winter time is to keep the bees in a state of production so they are ready to pollinate almonds or make honey as early as possible. But remember, just because the bees are flying and bringing in pollen doesn’t mean they are making honey. If they are light, feed them thick syrup. If they are going on pollination or need to be ready to make citrus honey, stimulating them with thin (1:1 ratio) syrup in December and January can help bolster brood production. Watch Varroa mite levels: Honey Bees in Florida have brood all winter (if the queen does shut down its usually only a few days). That means mites have the opportunity continue to reproduce as well. Because bees will start making harvestable honey in March, be sure that you have sufficient time to complete a treatment cycle before adding honey supers

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Preparing Queenright: The term queenright is defined as: a colony of bees with a properly functioning queen.  Young queens lay eggs later in fall and begin earlier in spring than do older queens.  Additionally, the queen’s mere presence increases worker survival. Combine week hives: Check your hives to determine strength. If you have a small hive that only fills two or three frames consider placing them in a NUC if they have a good Queen or remove that Queen and combine that hive with another week hive that has a good queen or another strong hive.

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Feeding your Honey Bees Types of Feeders: Entrance feeders – placed in entrance to hive Gravity feeders – jar, bucket and ECT Frame feeders – Placed inside the hive, must remove one or two frames Top feeders - goes over brood nest Mass feeders – Place away from hives and allow numerous bees from several hives to feed at same location. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWpqEKT7FuI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlYHVl3_p7s&list=PLdVmuwxOQbuS5xPwvaAThIdozRxwFeoFP&index=7

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Feeding your Honey Bees Types of Feed: Sugar water – mixed at 1:1, 1:2 Powdered sugar – feed by sprinkling in hive or making a cake with it Pollen substitute – feed in a powder form.

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Oxalic Acid Vaporizing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQp9pdAOjdo&index=48&list=PLdVmuwxOQbuS5xPwvaAThIdozRxwFeoFP Mineral oil vaporizing with or with out wintergreen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Is1W_F_-s&list=PLdVmuwxOQbuS5xPwvaAThIdozRxwFeoFP&index=13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crv868VZHU&list=PLdVmuwxOQbuS5xPwvaAThIdozRxwFeoFP&index=31

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Oxalic Acid Vaporizing All natural 2 Grams per hive Does not hurt the bees Use protective gear, gloves, mask and eye protection. Treat three times 7 – 10 days apart 95% 0 100% mite kill 315 degrees OA vaporizes

Videos on wintering your bees Michael Bush “The Practical Beekeeper” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMKFgeJOHCg JC Bees, 6 video series on wintering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul8PXUk1Cto Don Kuchenmeister “The fat bee Man” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNcrmz5AGA8&list=PLdVmuwxOQbuS5xPwvaAThIdozRxwFeoFP