Greetings to All BYBA Members!
Here we are nearing the conclusion of another beekeeping season. It’s time to take stock of everything we’ve learned. It’s time to stop feeling guilty about mistakes we made, because we’re smarter now, hopefully. And it’s time to tidy up last minute things during the warmer days we have left in October. So, what are they?
The nights are getting colder now so make sure your mouse guards are on. Without them, mice will get in during the night to get warm. Then when the temps go up and the bees become active, they’ll sting the intruders to death. The result will be a mouse carcass in the hive which the bees will try to cover with propolis. A nice spring surprise! But before putting the guard on, take a coat hanger or dowel and swish it around inside. If there’s one in there, flush it out, so you don’t trap it IN!
Let’s move on to feeding. How much honey do they need? A ten-frame colony needs 7-8 full frames of honey. An eight frame needs close to a full super of honey to survive the winter. If it’s a mild winter and they don’t use it all, that’s a good problem to have. If after your inspection you see that the bees have enough food, crack the upper super loose and lift it slightly. Over time, you’ll get a feel for how heavy it needs to be for them to winter over. This tip can save you some time and aggravation if the bees are “unfriendly” that day.
Now that it is getting chilly, a 2:1 solution is right. Two parts sugar to one part water, either by weight or by volume. No fancy sugars here. Just plain white granulated sugar. Other sugars have additives that will likely sicken the bees. This is important. Feed till they won’t take it.
Do those of you with hive top feeders have a problem with bees and yellow jackets getting in and drowning? Put three or four layers of newspaper over the feeder and then the outer cover over that. You’ve made a seal, and they can’t get in. Set the inner cover aside and replace it when feeding is done. If you live in a community that is trending red, then the bees tend to prefer the Wall Street Journal. If your town is trending blue, the New York Times is recommended.
Here’s a quick round up of what’s coming soon:
October 21 New Bees and Special Topics 6:30 pm (sign up and receive zoom link)
October 28 Robyn Underwood to speak on Spotted Lanternfly honeydew honey
See you all there!
Regards,
Andy Hatt
President, BYBA