Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
- and so a throughflow of cold air won't harm them. The lid, however, should be secure
at all times so that it won't blow off in the wind.
Install an entrance block or mouse excluder. Mice entering the hive for warmth
during the winter can be a real problem. If wasps are a problem, use a tunnel entrance.
These can be purchased from bee-supply shops or, better still, can be made at home.
Essentially, this is a tube fixed to the floor board that runs from the entrance into the
hive. Wasps don't like entering these and will leave the colony alone.
Organizing winter stores
It is very important that your colonies have enough stores to last them through the
winter. The amount required will depend on what your winters are like. Below are the
storage requirements for the Northern Hemisphere. These requirements are the same
for the Southern Hemisphere - you simply need to amend the words accordingly:
Northern climates (cold): average winter temperature <7°C (45°F). There should
be a minimum of 40 kg (90 lb) in three brood boxes. As a rule of thumb, the
following amounts are required: 10 kg (20 lb) in the bottom box, 15 kg (33 lb) in
the middle box and the rest in the top box.
Temperate climates (e.g. the UK/NZ): average winter temperature -4 to +10°C
(-39 to +50°F); 15-30 kg (33-66 lb).
Southern climates: average winter temperature 10-20°C (50-70°F); 8-15 kg
(17-33 lb).
So what does all this look like in terms of frames of honey or cans of syrup? When
working out the amount of stores your bees should have to enable them to survive the
winter, use the following approximate weights of honey in the comb (the figures have
been rounded up):
Each Langstroth frame should contain approximately 3 kg (6.5 lb) of honey.
Each shallow Langstroth frame should contain approximately 2 kg (4.5 lb) of
honey.
