In Fall each full hive gets 2 gallons of medicated syrup per twenty frames. Last week they all got their first gallon. Two colonies were given only one gallon since they are only ten frames in size; Myrina & Nuc #5. The Fumagilin is put in a heavy sugar syrup, 2:1 sugar to water. That's eight pounds of sugar in about two quarts of water.
Crystallized sugar after one gallon of 2:1 syrup |
Also it's time to close all the Screened Bottom Boards (SBB). Some beeks leave them open but i close mine. I think it helps the bees brood lower in the hive. Slatted Racks aid that as well. Myrina's SBB was replaced with a regular BB with a solid bottom. Mary & Nuc #5 also have the solid BB now. Heléna & Melissa both have the closed off SBB. As does that little September swarm i haven't been talking about.
The next steps toward Winterization will be the final Varroa check & treatment if necessary.
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2 comments:
How are your bees over-wintering so far?
Are you going to have to provide any emergency feed before spring arrives or are they still heavy with stores?
Show Me The Honey
Hey Chris,
They are doing good...So far. Our Winter in almost nonexistent. Except for the last two weeks the bees never stopped flying or Brooding. The Maples have also begun to bloom five weeks early.
Now as we enter February we will see colonies begin to starve out. We have started to feed the bees plus i have full honey frames in storage to supplement the hives. I don't expect to need dry sugar with all the resources coming on early. Would only use sugar at this point if we have a prolonged cold snap.
If warm conditions continue we are looking at an early Swarm season too.
Hope your bees are doing well too. Do you plan to expand your apiary this year? You know you Want to...
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