Top Bar Beekeeping Forum

[Gary]

When over wintering a TBH or any colony for that matter there are a few things you can do to increase the odds in the favor of the bees. Remember there is no sure fire methods when dealing with Mother Nature, if there were we would not name hurricanes.

First off the main risk factors:

Mites
Moisture
Stores

These are the three biggest ones we want to mitigate with regards to over wintering.

Mites,

We have been monitoring our daily mite fall and have treated appropriately to insure the smallest mite load for the winter cluster. We will monitor up until winter to ensure a warm fall does not allow the mite to gain a new foothold in our colony.

Moisture

Provide some type of ventilation weather it is upper entrances or a Warre quilt type roof (recommended) to allow moisture to escape.

Stores

Do not take any honey from a first year colony, gauge what is needed to get through one of your winters by what’s left the following spring. Know that the most crucial time for a colony is spring, the colony is coming to life and the queen begins laying adding thousands of new mouths to feed and there is NO available forage!!! This is the biggest starvation risk to a colony.

To mitigate this risk put as big a chunk of bakers fondant in the bottom of your hive right on the floor. This will serve two purposes. If temps inside the colony permit the bees can store more, when the colony comes to life long before you see the first bee fly there will be a food source available.
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Gary
www.hirschbachapiary.com
gary@hirschbachapiary.com

Procrastination is the assassination of inspiration!

There are good men willing to do evil things to protect you from evil men doing evil things in the name of good.

[biobee]

One small modification to Gary's advice: if you use mesh floors that are open underneath, place the fondant on a tray or plastic box, to prevent wasps and other insects (and maybe skunks, if you have them) stealing it from under the floor.
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The Barefoot Beekeeper www.biobees.com

[Gary]

Good point, I have drawers on mine.
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Gary
www.hirschbachapiary.com
gary@hirschbachapiary.com

Procrastination is the assassination of inspiration!

There are good men willing to do evil things to protect you from evil men doing evil things in the name of good.

[professor]

Valuable tips Gary, thanks for posting them.
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“Against a man’s stupidity even the gods are helpless”- Greek saying