Previous Newsletters in years 2020/21/22/23/24

Posted on1st January 202018th September 2024Leave a comment

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September - December

September
Time to feed the colony for the winter, replacing the honey taken. Feed continuously with standard strength sugar syrup (1 kg added to one pint of water). The colony will need at least 15kg of syrup (more for the bigger hives) to take it through the cold months ahead.
Feeding needs to be completed before the end of the month to give the colony time to drive off the excess water.
Remove varroa gel or strips when treatment is completed.
Fit a mouse guard to the hive entrance.

October, November, December
At the beginning of October heft the hives to check that they are all heavy. They need to feel as though they are nailed down, if not, continue feeding.
With all the required food now in the brood chamber, all should be well for winter.
Strap or weigh down the roof against winter wind.
If you have solid floors, make sure the hive slopes gently forwards so that rain will not run into the entrance. If you have open mesh floors it is better to have the hive completely level to keep comb construction vertical in the frames.
If green woodpeckers are in your area, protect the hives by putting wire netting or shiny black plastic round all four sides.
Monitor the now small entrance regularly for the build up of dead bees. Bees are dying all the time and just a few can block the entrance leaving the others unable to get out for water or cleansing flights.
Keep regular checks for woodpecker damage or rain getting in?
Be aware that sheep, badgers, deer or other animals could knock the hive over rubbing against to satisfy an itch. Use secure stock fencing if this is a risk.
Feeding should not be required yet, but keep an emergency block of fondant available just in case. Most of the colonies that die out do so because of starvation.

Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells Beekeepers

A branch of the Kent Bee-Keepers Association

Month: January 2020

Previous Newsletters in years 2020/21/22/23/24