In order for the bee colony to be in good working condition at the beginning of the season, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for the insects for wintering. When ensuring proper preparation of bees for winter, you need to pay attention to several points: a sufficient amount of high-quality food, proper insulation of the hive or preparation of the winter hut, providing the bees with complete rest and protection from annoying noise.
Preparing bee colonies for wintering
Thanks to proper organization, it is not difficult to create conditions for a long, pleasant winter for bees.
For beginning beekeepers, it is recommended that the preparatory process be divided into several stages:
- timely provision of insects with complete food.To do this, it is important not to pump out all the honey during the main bribe period;
- create conditions for increasing the strength of bee colonies. It is the preparation of insects for the cold that will ensure a comfortable winter;
- rational assembly of nests.
It is also important to carry out sanitary and preventive treatment of bees to prevent the occurrence and spread of diseases.
Feed stocks
Since bee colonies cannot be disturbed in winter, it is necessary to provide the required amount of food in the fall.
It is recommended to follow certain beekeeping rules:
- climatic features are taken into account. In the northern regions, 28-30 kg of food is provided per bee colony, in the south - 18-20 kg, in mid-latitudes 23-25 kg;
- feed quality. The honey from the first half of the bribe is considered the best. If honey containing admixtures of honeydew substances is used for wintering, the insects begin to have diarrhea. This can result in a large drop of bees;
- For food preparation, it is preferable to use light brown honeycombs, which help retain heat. If honey is harvested in old combs, the likelihood of diseases increases and the crystallization of the product accelerates.
It is recommended to prepare food slightly higher than normal for wintering. Because weak bee colonies have to spend more energy on heating.
Warming bees
Preparing bee colonies for wintering includes the procedure of insulating the hive. This cannot be neglected in areas with frosty climatic conditions. Depending on the weather, you need to take into account the quantity and quality of insulation, methods of preparing insects for winter, and control of bee colonies. Some beekeepers prepare special insulated rooms (omshanik) for wintering bees. Buildings perform several functions:
- protect insects from gusty cold winds, sudden temperature changes, and loud noise;
- allow you to reduce feed consumption;
- help extend the life of hives.
Experienced beekeepers advise not to rush to transfer insects indoors until stable frosty weather has established (morning temperature -5...-7 °C), since early frosts often alternate with warm days, favorable for late flight of bees.
Wintering outside
When bees are kept in the middle zone, beekeepers most often leave insects to spend the winter outside. In such cases, you need to properly insulate each hive:
- Shields are used to fence houses on the outside. When constructing a fence, it is important to maintain the distance between the shield and the walls of the hive;
- the narrow space is filled with the correct insulation (which will not harbor bee pests). Suitable materials: dry walnut leaves, fallen pine needles. It is not recommended to use straw, which can harbor mice;
- Free space is left near the entrances to ensure ventilation by allowing air to enter the hive.
Natural moss and foam plastic can be used as external insulation.To reduce the number of walls blown by the winds, the houses are built side by side, close to each other. The hives are installed in elevated areas to prevent spring flooding. Advantages of open wintering: earlier spring migration, insects are less pampered. The main disadvantage is the difficulty of controlling the condition of bee colonies due to snowdrifts or sheathing.
Wintering is an important stage in the life of a bee colony. During this period, it is necessary to provide the insects with peace, sufficient food, and comfortable conditions. In the second half of wintering, you need to regularly monitor the condition of the bees, the quantity and quality of food.
