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Winter is here...
but spring is just around the corner.
It's time to bee prepared for the new season!
New to beekeeping?
Here's our winter guide for newbees.
Is your hive winter ready?
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a warm area with year-round forage, most beekeepers pack down their hives in winter to ensure their colonies will be kept warm and have enough honey stores to last the season. If you’re just getting started, winter is a great time to look ahead and start planning!
Your overwintering set-up will be specific to the needs of your colony in your climate – it’s best to consult with local beekeepers to learn the best over-wintering practices for your region. Some of the steps you may need to take are:
Planning on growing your apiary in spring?
$49.00
Now is a good time to start planning for next season. Maybe you will want to split a hive in spring, or secure a nuc or package for a new hive.
We recommend having more than one hive. You can learn a lot by comparing the differences between multiple colonies. When it comes to hives, we’ve got a range of options to choose from.
Preparing your hive for winter
We share our tips on getting your hive winter-ready, covering:
- Checking honey stores
- Removing the Flow Super
- Insulating the hive
- Feeding your bees
Winter packdown made easier
The Flow Super Lifter
The most sought-after addition to any apiary this season, the Flow Super Lifter makes your winter hive maintenance a breeze.
A tool that’s been carefully designed to let you open a beehive with minimal effort.
It’s a simple solution that is
🐝 so much easier,
🐝 so much faster, and
🐝 allows you to be more gentle on your bees.
Feeding your bees: Super on or off?
Many beekeepers will reduce the size of their hives during winter, removing excess boxes. The smaller the size of the hive, the easier for the bees to keep it warm. If your Flow Super has a lot of honey in it, you may want to leave it on for the bees. If not, remove it for the winter.
An Ideal Super with honey stores can also be a great option to ensure your bees have enough to eat.
Look after your queen
Keep the queen in the cluster
The bees will form a cluster during winter, and will gradually move up the hive consuming the honey stores. It is vital that you remove the queen excluder so your queen does not get stranded from the rest of the colony.
🎬 Learn how to remove the queen excluder
Top Tip: The queen will not be laying eggs at this time, so it’s not a problem for her to get into the honey super during winter.
Flow Frame Storage
If you remove your Flow Super for winter, you should harvest any remaining honey from the Flow Frames, then leave the super on for a few days to allow the bees to clean up any remaining residue.
Allow the Flow Frames to dry thoroughly, then store them in a dry place away from direct light*. Wrap them in plastic or store them in a tub to prevent pests.
*The Flow Frame plastic is UV sensitive.
Top Tip: If there is honey in your Flow Frames that you want to use next spring, you can store the Flow Frames in a freezer over winter.
A good time to study!
Expand your knowledge about bees
While there’s not much to be done in the apiary, it’s a great time to expand your knowledge about bees.
With contributions from specialists around the world, there’s no other source of beekeeping knowledge quite like this.
Check for varroa mites
If varroa mites are present in your region, it’s crucial to check mite levels before it gets too cold to open the hive — below 15°C.
Calculate the mite load and apply a treatment if necessary.
Add an entrance reducer
Our Flow Entrance Reducer is handy for protecting against predators and robbing, reducing drafts in cold climates and can be used to seal the hive entrance for short periods when relocating your hive.
Do not disturb
It’s best to avoid any hive or brood inspections when the weather is cold. The bees will maintain a brood temperature of 34-36°C (94 to 97°F). It is dangerous to expose them to low temperatures by opening up the hive, so keep it closed.
Top Tip: It’s possible to figure out what part of the hive the bees are in by listening closely. The nearer they are to the top, the less stores they have left – so this can be a way of knowing whether, and when you need to feed them.
Your winter questions answered
We're here to support your beekeeping journey!
You can connect with our team via phone, email, live chat or through our social platforms. Cedar even answers your questions live streamed from the apiary every Wednesday!
Inspire others to get involved
Do you know someone who’s keen on taking up beekeeping in the new year? Have you convinced a friend to follow you into the beekeeping world?
Our Refer-A-Friend program allows your friend to receive $50 off their first hive, and you receive a sweet $50 reward.
If you don’t have a beekeeping buddy, consider linking up with someone local on the Flow Community Forum.