Autumn Beekeeping For Experienced Beekeepers

Beekeeping in autumn

With summer solstice behind us, the days are gradually getting shorter, and with the change in season so too do we change over to another page in the beekeeping calendar.

This is the time that beekeepers begin their preparations to ensure their colony not only survives, but also thrives into spring.

Although temperatures may remain warm in some areas, it’s time to start considering which overwintering practices you will choose for your colony.

New to beekeeping? Here's our autumn starter guide.

In many places, there won’t be any forage available during winter, so it’s very important to ensure your colony has enough resources and to prepare your hive, especially if you live in a very cold climate. The steps you need to take will depend on local conditions.

It's a good idea to connect with local beekeepers to understand specific overwintering practices for your area. Or put your questions to our Community forum to engage with beekeepers around the world and get a range of advice.

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What do I need to check?

How well a colony will survive through winter depends largely upon:

• The number of bees
• The health and condition
• The resources available inside the hive
• How well the hive is equipped to deal with the cold weather (ie: ventilation, insulation, etc).

Are your bees getting fatter?

Before winter, it’s important to do a brood inspection and count and to have a look at the queen’s laying pattern.

Towards the end of the summer, the colony will stop producing foraging bees, and will instead produce fat winter bees. These live longer than foragers, and their larger bodies help to generate heat and to insulate the brood and the queen throughout the winter months.

Watching your bees come and go can be one of the most rewarding parts of beekeeping! Can you notice the different activity levels compared to spring and summer?

What’s going on in my area?

Finding out what’s in bloom, and what’s going to be available for your bees during this time of year is essential. A great aspect of being a beekeeper is that you learn more about your local wildlife – and become more in tune with nature’s rhythms.

In some areas there will still be nectar available throughout the fall. You might even get some unique honey flavours you haven’t tasted before.

Watch out for pests

While the air is still warm, conduct inspections and treat for any pests and disease, so your colony is in optimal health, before being packed down and tucked in overwinter.

Now is a good time to check for pests, and treat the hive before packing down.

Do they have enough food?

It’s important to check honey stores to assess whether you might need to feed your hive coming into, or during winter. How much they need will depend on the length and severity of winter in your area.

Check out Cedar’s homemade feeders.

Do I need to reduce the size of my hive?

The more space in the hive, the harder the bees will have to work to keep the hive warm. Lots of beekeepers will remove their super in autumn. The brood boxes should contain plenty of honey.

During winter, the bees will form a cluster at the bottom of the hive to retain warmth, and gradually work their way upwards to make the most of their resources.

If you leave your super on over winter, you should remove the queen excluder to ensure the queen doesn’t get separated from the rest of the colony.

Having the right amount of ventilation and insulation is also vital. There should not be any ventilation at the top of the hive (eg: an open top entrance).

Watch Fred Dunn talk about winter tips for Flow Hives.

Make your apiary maintenance easier

We’re excited to announce a brand new product to help simplify your beekeeping experience even more. Say hello to the Flow Beekeeping Caddy with Accessories – your perfect beekeeping companion!

From its handy storage and transport options to its range of beekeeping accessories, you’ll feel even more supported and prepared as you attend your apiary.

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Plan on expanding next season?

If you’re thinking of getting another hive next season, now is a good time to start thinking about what you need. Perhaps you’ll split your existing hive, or sign up to get a nuc or package from your local club or bee supplier.

Having more than one hive is a great way to learn more quickly, as you can compare and contrast what’s going on with different colonies.

With less time spent in the apiary in winter, you’ll have time to start thinking about what type of hive you’d like for next season and where to put it. You can even get it assembled and painted in plenty of time for next spring!

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How Flow Hives add value to apiaries

Using Flow's harvesting technology, Stella and John have added value by producing specialty sweet and red clover honey.
The unique and local flavour of single-frame harvesting has expanded their market to people who look for honey like they do for wine and cheese—flavour and the story behind it.

Need extra help?

There’s always more to learn as a beekeeper!

So, in conjunction with the world's experts, we’ve created TheBeekeeper.org

It lets you fast-track your learning easily and enjoyably. Learn in your own time with high-quality videos explaining what you need to know in order to feel confident looking after your bees.

With specific lessons on the beekeeping season, winter preparations & pest control, get a beekeeping education straight from the specialists!