Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

[KQ6AR]

I'm afraid of Lauri already, she's already got her winter meat supply in the freezer. Who's prepared?

[Lauri]

Until it is time to give a hive count in October, perhaps some could give their overwintering methods a post. Name the climate and state you are in please.

[Captainfester]

3 hives. 2 I'm 2 deeps and 1 in 3 meds. All new hives this year. No treatments.

[KQ6AR]

No winter prep other than making sure mite loads aren't crazy high.
It snows about once per winter but rarely sticks, there is nectar available at least 11 months per year, Most weeks have at least a couple days warm enough for the bees to fly.
USDA zone 9b

[Charlie B]

Ok, I'm done with combines and the like. I have 34 hives all treatment free other than powdered sugar.

It has begun!

[Charlie B]

BTW,

I'm already setting up swarm traps near the Frank compound for this coming spring.
Swarmtraps.jpg

[cg3]

I'm in with 17. 11 treated with Hopguard, 6 untreated.

[cg3]

I'm in zone 6b, occasionally gets down around 0 F. Snows some, wet.
Mouseguards, SBB open about 1", feeding the light ones to fill 3 meds.

[WWW]

Charlie, perhaps you can snag a few swarms off the Frank compound to thin his herd a little so the rest of us will have a chance in this contest .

If it has begun then I am still in with 6 hives, very heavy with winter stores and sassy to boot

[cg3]

I'm looking for a yard in Belpre, OH.

[BeeGhost]

Lauri, just have to say that is a nice bull! And with archery gear to boot!

[Gord]

6 Langs, 2 TBH's
FGMO and EO's only.
Quilts on top of langs, wrap all with reflextix on north and east sides.

[Charlie B]

This is the last day before we start. If you want to change your hive count, let us know by the end of today. Good wintering everyone!

[KQ6AR]

I have one nuc having a hard time getting queen right, one hive superseding, & another I'll probably have to feed.
Guess I'll stick with 7, & see what happens.

[debtfreedave]

Couldn't get to the computer yesterday. I'm starting with 3 hives. No treatment.

[G Barnett]

4 hives treatment free.

[oblib]

I'm in with 23 hives.

[BayHighlandBees]

3 hives (one has a virgin queen, my strongest has mites).

Sounds like I'll be evenly matched with Ollie :P

[Charlie B]

3 hives (one has a virgin queen, my strongest has mites). Sounds like I'll be evenly matched with Ollie :P

Are you sure you didn't get those hives from Olly?

[btmurph]

I'm out... my 1 colony ( ) succumbed to yellow jackets

watching and waiting to see who wins tho