For every honey collection season to be successful, proper preparation of bees for wintering is necessary. Experienced beekeepers are guided by this wisdom. But what should a beginner beekeeper do? To get started, get acquainted with the peculiarities of bee wintering, study their winter diet and follow the advice of more experienced comrades.
Autumn revision
Autumn bee family testing is necessary so that all working bees are strong, hardy and healthy by spring. Undoubtedly, active measures should be carried out throughout the entire honey collection, but an audit before winter is an integral part of the correct and timely preparation for winter. More precisely, this is the very first stage. In the process, shortcomings are identified that can interfere with a successful wintering.
The beekeeper should take into account the following nuances:
- To estimate the number of young worker bees, thanks to which the whole family will survive during the cold weather, the number of broods is taken into account.
- The most important point is the age of the bee, as the ability to plant brood depends on this. Accordingly, the increase in the size of the whole family.
- Qualitative indicators of fodder stocks - honey and beef. If their quality or quantity does not meet the requirements, the bee family will be weakened, many individuals will die.
- The condition of working bees is their activity, performance, and the presence of diseases.
- Suitability of honeycombs for wintering.
To appreciate all the nuances, the beekeeper must carefully examine the hives, insects. Inspection is carried out under favorable weather conditions, as otherwise the usual mode of life for bees is disrupted.
Nest formation
The nest is formed in the warm season, before the onset of cold weather. That is, at a time when insects do not yet swirl. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the family, their behavior, ways to move around the hive, etc. There are 3 main methods:
- A one-sided view involves placing a frame with honey on one side, in which 3 kg of product is placed. Next, a structure with one and a half kilograms of honey is installed, then another 3 frames are put, filled with honey of 2 kg each. At the end, a frame with 2.5 kg and 2 structures with 3 kg are mounted. Thus, you can save 1-2 kg of feed (in contrast to the following method).
- Bilateral method: 2 frames with two kilograms of honey are set. After them, 2 more designs having 2.5 kg of feed, on the extreme side they mount frames with an amount of 3-4 kg. The total consumption of the product is 20-22 kg.
- Beard - the most economical way, involving the installation of the frame in the center with a small amount of feed. Next, the structures extending from the central part of the hive are placed, in which an even smaller number of honey is laid. Thus, the flow rate is from 10 to 15 kg. Additionally perpendicular mounted wood bars, serving as guides. Most often, the method is used for weak bees. Among experienced beekeepers it is used extremely rarely.
Wintering bees in the wild
Some beekeepers leave the bee family to winter in the wild, that is, almost outdoors, but at the same time take into account climatic conditions. The fact is that in regions with an increased amount of snow and steady frost, it is easier for bees to survive in natural conditions. It is known that under the snow cover the temperature regime always remains at the same level, it is 0 degrees (snow has low thermal conductivity). This is a favorable habitat for insects. But there are subtleties:
- The first flight of bees should be carried out in the early stages.
- In 2 buildings lower and upper slots are left open. In the upper concentrates the bulk of the bees, as they are fodder. In the lower are low-honeycombs, so they are considered airbags, which increases the space above the frames.
- If the bees leave the hive, they die, but the damage is considered insignificant, since usually sick individuals fly out.
Wintering in Omshanik
Being in winter in Omshanik, bees easily survive very windy and severe weather without losing the bee family. Feeding is carried out according to the type of feeding in a multi-hive hive, which leads to a minimum consumption of feed honey. And this, in turn, does not overload the intestines of the bees, which has a positive effect on the state of their body.
Yes, and wooden hives do not rot. The temperature regime in Omshanik ranges from -2 degrees to + 2 degrees.
A prerequisite is the range of groundwater relative to the surface of the soil.
Wintering in multihull hives
Even medium-weak families can winter in a multi-hive hive, but this method is more often used in the production of honey in large quantities. The reason for this is the high productivity of bees in contrast to the frame content. And top dressing is considered simplified.
The multi-hive hive has small-sized frames, which reduces the amount of honey to be laid for the winter. But there are features - you need to provide for the transition of the club to free frameworks. It is known that the club loses its activity during frosts, therefore it does not move to the side. But it easily rises up, that is, to where the feed is heated with oxygen. Therefore, you do not need to bend around the plane.
Wintering in sunbeds
The main advantage of wintering in sunbeds is the low level of laboriousness of the actions performed, since there is no need to rearrange heavy containers with honey. Therefore, 1 person can prepare sunbeds. Another plus is the simplicity of preparing insects in the open air, because this process begins in late summer.
Features:
- Preparation consists in delivery to late melliferous plants and feeding of bees.
- Immediately after this, the condition of the family is checked by removing the store extensions.
- Since the width of the hive is too large, the beekeeper reduces these parameters. He removes the frame away from the taphole, which will create a kind of vestibule where the air will be warmed. This will ensure normal air exchange and temperature in the bee room.
Hive ventilation
Without ventilation of the hive, the gas exchange process is disrupted, that is, the flow of fresh air does not enter, and carbon dioxide does not exit, as a result of which a significant amount of steam accumulates. Because of this, food spoils, hives rot, and bees die. Therefore, the device ventilation system is an integral part of the preparatory winter period.
Most often, the letok is opened from above and from below, but the insects in the upper holes are clogged with propolis, due to which the flow of fresh air stops. But even strong drafts are undesirable, since it is dangerous for bees.
What to do for balanced ventilation:
- If the upper notch is covered with propolis, you can make small holes at the top or slightly push the boards apart. This is important, since the steam released by the club comes in exactly upward, which then accumulates, increasing the overall humidity.
- In severe frosts, holes and holes freeze, so make sure that this does not happen. The situation can be corrected by removing ice.
- Fully openings can not be opened (to avoid strong draft), so the valve must be adjustable.
Preparing feed for the winter
In order not to harm the bees, the food should not crystallize, so light varieties of honey are selected. Basically this is a product withdrawn from the main bribe, that is, a floral appearance. Light honey contains a minimum amount of pade components, which eliminates the death of insects. Before laying winter food, you need to check it for the number of paddy. This is done in 2 ways - take honey to the laboratory or do it at home, that is, on your own.
Lime research:
- Take honey and water in equal proportions, which should be distilled or well, but must be filtered. Combine, mix thoroughly.
- Add lime water in the same amount as your honey solution.
- Put the mass on the fire, bring to a boil.
- Carefully inspect the fluid. If brown flakes are present in it, then there is an excess amount of paddy. It is forbidden to use such honey as a top dressing for insects.
- In the absence of discoloration and sediment, honey is considered suitable for feed.
Studies with wine alcohol:
- Combine the purified water and honey in equal proportions (we take 1 part of the components).
- Prepare 10 parts of wine alcohol having 96%.
- Combine all the ingredients.
- Examine the fluid. As in the past case, in the presence of the pade components, a precipitate in the form of flakes precipitates and the color changes.
If a pad is found in honey products, all honey is destroyed. Harmful substances enter the food through the bees themselves, as they bring it from the fields where they collect pollen. The reason is chemical treatment of crops.
What and how to feed the bees?
First of all, bees should receive natural honey, but if it is not enough or it is of poor quality, the food is replaced with another feed.
Sugar syrup
This food does not contain vitamins and minerals, but it is possible to support the vitality of bees. In addition, it will warm the hive.
How to cook:
- Take enameled dishes, but not iron, to prevent oxidation.
- Pour 2 liters of water, boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add sugar in the amount of 3.5-4 kg.
- Mix thoroughly until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Refrigerate until warm.
- Introduce vinegar essence (approximately 1.2-1.3 ml per 4 kg of sugar), but this is not necessary.
Feeding Rules:
- For the 1st hive per day, approximately 5 liters of syrup are needed.
- Feeding time is evening.
- The condition of the syrup is warm (hot and cold are excluded).
- If the bees are fully restored, the dosage is reduced to 300 ml.
- The hive must be well ventilated, otherwise condensation will form, leading to the deterioration of insects.
Syrup with potatoes
By adding potato juice, you can significantly improve the composition of the syrup, saturating it with useful substances.
Cooking method:
- peel potatoes, rinse thoroughly;
- pass the tubers through a meat grinder or grate on the smallest grater;
- squeeze the juice;
- for 1 liter of sugar syrup add a maximum of 60 ml of juice;
- to dilute components exclusively in the form of heat.
How to feed:
- tie a container that will be placed in the hive with gauze;
- pour the mass into this glass container;
- put in the hive;
- make sure that the bees not only drink juice and syrup, but also eat a sediment of starch.
Dough made from sugar and honey
This recipe is used as a top dressing. Used and prepared in this way:
- take 4 kg of granulated sugar, grind it with a blender until powdered;
- put a kilogram of honey on the fire (it should become liquid and warm);
- add powdered sugar, mix;
- achieve the consistency of the test;
- add 100 ml of water;
- make a half-kilogram of dough cake 2 cm thick;
- put the dough on the frame.
Feeding with beef
You can feed the beef in 2 ways:
- The bee bread is placed on the sides of the brood, that is, on the combs on the edge. When the pollen bribe is in full swing, you need to remove these honeycombs, in their place to install frames with wax. And the feather elements are installed in another case, which will enable insects to fill them with honey and seal them. After that, pull out the frames, put them in boxes, the temperature in which should be from 2 to 8 degrees. At the beginning of spring, feeding is carried out (when the bees need to gain strength).
- Preservation of the beef. It is necessary to remove with a sharp knife the surface of the cells on which there is a bee bread. Then they are cut and passed through a meat grinder. After wash the glass jars, dry thoroughly. Put the bee bread in them and fill with honey. Roll up in the usual way. When top dressing is carried out, the jars are placed in warm water so that the mass melts and becomes homogeneous. Put 300-400 grams of the product on polyethylene, which is turned over to the frame and left as a heater. Feeding can be repeated after 7-10 days.
You can find more information about feeding bees in this article.
Processing bees and beehives against diseases
Bees quite often suffer from diseases that can lead to their death during wintering. Therefore, it is important when preparing to process insects and hives. Do this after the last brood and the formation of the nest. The most common diseases are nosematosis and varroatosis.
There are various processing methods:
- Nutrient medication. That is, the appropriate medicine is introduced into the liquid feed (preferably sugar syrup). Bees eat it with food. The veterinarian should choose the drug based on the alleged illness, although there are universal remedies. With nosematosis, Fumagilin proved effective, with varroatosis - Apimax.
- Smoke cannon. To do this, introduce smoke into the hive, close it for 20 minutes, and then open it. The downside is the need for the procedure twice. Today, there are special preparations that treat the hive thermally using a special gun. You can smoke hives with the drug Folbeks, Phenothiazine, Bipin.
- Vapors of liquid. To do this, you need to hang a plate in the hive, on which a liquid agent is previously applied. Bees touch it and spread the drug throughout the hive, creating the effect of a chain reaction. Or the vapors that the bee absorbs through the airways stand out from the plate. Means: Nozemalin, oxalic acid.
Some chemicals have a negative effect on the family. Therefore, choose drugs based on natural ingredients.
When do preparations for wintering begin?
Inspect the hives and begin to carry out the first preparation in late August - during the period when the main honey bribe ended. If you do this in the middle or end of autumn, there may be problems with brood, because the weather will be non-flying, which is why the bees settle in the nest.
If, according to the forecast, the autumn should be warm and dry, then the preparation can begin a little later, but so that the heat is still preserved.
Useful tips for beekeepers
Each experienced beekeeper can share his tricks and secrets with a novice beekeeper, thanks to which the bee family will successfully winter. Here are some of the recommendations:
- Be sure to insulate the hives. A variety of materials are used for this. Most often, to save money, beekeepers take improvised things - foam sheets (left after household appliances), plastic films, polyurethane foam, old bags, warm clothes, straw and much more.
- It is important that the feed is sufficient.
- To keep the heat better in winter, all hives are transferred to each other, that is, are grouped. If they are placed very close, then there will be no open walls through which the wind passes. Yes, and the insulation material will have to be used less (or several hives are hidden individually, or one structure, albeit a large one).
- Bee houses are insulated not only from the outside, but also from the inside. To do this, on both sides of the club, outfit insulation frames are installed, on top they put a warm cloth or any insulation material. Straw, felt mats or leaves are placed under the glue.
- The outside is upholstered with suitable material.To do this, use small nails, glue.
- In autumn, feeding is necessary, so the uterus will not lose its functionality, and working individuals will remain active.
- If you add vinegar to sugar syrup, then strictly monitor the dosage, since an excessive amount of acid leads to uninvestment of the sweet mass. As a result of this, sealing does not occur.
- The relative humidity in the hive should be between 70 and 75%.
- Avoid drafts. If the apiary is in open space, then the hives should be insulated with materials that do not allow wind.
- Dry and ventilate thoroughly before installing hives.
- During the autumn audit, make sure that the uterus is alive and ready to produce offspring. A cause for concern is the lack of brood and testicles in the combs.
- If the bees after the last honey plant are exhausted, be sure to build offspring.
- With a very hot autumn, it is important to artificially create adverse weather conditions for the bees. To do this, provoke a draft or shadow by opening the hives. Because bees before wintering replace themselves. If this does not happen, they will remain unprepared, it will be difficult for them to endure the winter.
- Strong families have the bottom, weak, as well as nuclei with additional uterus - on top.
- Passages for passage are allowed to be opened after a complete reassurance of members of the bee family.
Do not be afraid of all the rules for preparing the hive for wintering, although there are a great many of them. In fact, the process will not take much time and energy, but in the spring the bees will be strong, efficient and strong. And this guarantees a large collection of honey.
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