Bees in Winter

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	Bees in Winter Bees in winter typically don't need any special care as long as they are a healthy, full-sized colony, but if you want to increase your brood strength, some extra steps are called for. With large enough numbers, most hives can produce enough heat to stay warm even in sub-zero temperatures. While they may be a bit more irritable in winter (you would be too, if you were cooped up in a hive all winter), they typically make it to spring just fine. But if you want a truly strong hive in the spring - one that will produce enough brood so you can split your hive, then a few extra precautions will help your hive be healthy and productive. Protecting Your Hive If you have a small hive, and if the weather where you live gets especially cold in the winter months, you can help your hive stay warm by placing a wind block on the north side of your hive. Placing black tar paper on the north side will help absorb the sun's heat in the winter, also helping your hive stay warm. And of course, bees in winter will fare far better if the hive's entrance is facing the south rather than the north. Always wear a beekeeper's suit for full protection Feeding Your Bees Bees get the crucial protein they need from pollen. Typically they store enough pollen to last them through the winter, and if they haven't stored enough protein, they will stop making drones and eventually brood. If you want your bees to produce extra brood in the early spring, you can provide them with a pollen substitute. A pollen substitute will also help your bees remain healthy and strong during the harsh winter months. Pollen substitute is available from most beekeeping suppliers. If the weather is warm and dry, you can set pollen substitute out in a bucket tipped on its side near the hive. (If it's wet out, the substitute will mold pretty quickly). You can also either purchase or make a pollen patty for your bees. Add the patty to your hive only if the weather outside is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. It will be like a vitamin boost for your bees. Pollen Patty Recipe You can make a pollen patty for your bees using the following recipe: One and a half cups Soy Flour One half cup of Brewers Yeast One and a half cups granulated sugar Three fourths cup of hot water Mix together the dry ingredients and set aside. Add the sugar to the hot water and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, making a syrup. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the syrup until the mixture resembles a stiff bread dough. Press your patties between wax paper. Your bees are slower and don't move about as much in the hive in the winter so you will want the patty to be as close to your cluster of bees as possible. Place your patty near your cluster of bees with the wax paper side up. Bees in winter will appreciate the vitamin boost and will be healthier and stronger through the cold months. More Helpful Information on Keeping Bees A great source of beekeeping supplies, information and ready-made beehives can be found by clicking here. Learn more about beekeeping with this e-book. Want to learn how to stop the progression of Africanized or "killer" bees? Become a beekeeper! Learn how. Build your own backyard beehive. Here's how. If you're ready to have your own source of the most healthful, nutritious honey available, consider becoming a homestead beekeeper. Here's how. A beekeeper can make money selling honey as well as a self-reliant source of food. Here are other ways you can earn income off your land. Harvest beeswax to make your own bath products. Learn how. Your own harvested beeswax can also be used to make your own candles. Sell honey and other products at craft fairs. Here's how. Bees are not only a way to a far improved homesteading garden, they are also industrious, highly organized insects. Learn about the different members of the bee colony. Without the right equipment, beekeeping can be an extremely unpleasant task. Here is a list of the important Beekeeping equipment you need to get started. The right location for your bees is as important as the equipment you have on hand. Here are some tips on finding the right location for your colony of bees. Once you are an experienced homesteading beekeeper, you might want to increase your bee population by catching swarms. Learn how. Do you think you're ready to start beekeeping, but you don't know where to begin? Here are some tips on getting started. Is spring around the corner? These beekeeping basics will ensure your bees will survive the end of winter and produce plenty of honey for your this spring and summer. Read more. To keep bees you need the right housing to keep them happy and healthy. Learn more. Colony collapse disorder is a serious problem, causing hundreds of thousands of bees each year to simply vanish. Fortunately, we homesteaders can ensure bees will survive for years to come. Learn more. Learn a low-cost way of building your own hive for in-comb honey. Learn more. Bees normally will do just fine in the winter, but a little extra help on your part will ensure a strong, healthy hive. Learn more. New! Comments Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Return from Bees in Winter to Home	Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! 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