winter management

I don't have my own hive yet, as I'm still a student, but I'm thinking of starting up when I return to Minnesota. My county in MN is zone 4b....it gets cold! Do the bees require any special care over the winter? What's the best way to winterize a hive? Is beekeeping even practical in such a...

Today I went to wrap the hive to help protect it from winter. This is my first hive, my first winter with bees. At the beginning of October I had a full hive of Italians, a healthy queen, and a TON of honey. Like Ive been told, I left the honey alone and reduced the entrance since the days were...

Hello everyone! This is my first winter with a hive and today we had 55 degree temps so I went out to check on my girls. Quick notes: My configuration is one deep (bottom) and a medium super on top. I stopped feeding syrup the first week of November and went into winter with the medium super...

I am new to beekeeping and this is my first winter. I am not quite sure how much honey to leave them. I have 2 honey supers (both are full) and 2 brood boxes (they are full also). Should I extract the honey supers and leave the brood boxes or should I leave all the boxes? Thanks.

Guys and Gals I have some questions. Firstly let me say that my two first hives are ROCKING! Both hives (langstroth)have 4 boxes on so far, I just ordered more. They seem to be doing great and I'm already seeing some honey in the top. So here are my questions. 1. How should I arrange the boxes...

I've been reading about feeding bees for the fall and fall/pre-winter management. I've been getting alot of opinions, viewpoints, etc, and some are conflicting. I live in Central Mississippi so winters are not severe and have nine hives. My goal was to get all established and healthy this...

Hello I have three colonies that are very very strong in population. 2 were spring splits from the third hive. Mite counts are almost nil (3 or less with sugar roll) and I did harvest a ton of honey this year mostly from the original colony that is strong each year. I am wondering what to do...

I'll be setting up a four frame observation hive in a window frame of a friends house this winter. He's an advocate of apitherapy and will be taking about 20 bees from the hive per day. Big Question: If the hive is being fed and the inside temperature is warm enough, will the hive rear brood...

Does anybody have any experience collecting bees during the winter for the purpose of apitherapy? I'd like to set up a 4 frame observation hive indoors (with outdoor entrance) for my friend to collect bees from (approx. 20 bees a day) for his treatment during the long Canadian winter. I've never...