Each climate has its own specific requirements for overwintering beehives. Here in Quebec, our bees must adapt, and we need to give them a helping hand. Here are a few important points to remember as soon as summer ends.
- Because bees cannot empty their guts during the cold winter months, everything they eat is stored there until the outside temperature allows them to defecate. For this reason, it is important that the food given to them in September (their winter reserves) be as light as possible. Syrup made from sugarcane is therefore more suitable than honey, as honey, especially at the end of the season, is high in protein.
A diet too rich in protein consumed during the winter remains in the intestine for too long and can promote diarrhea in bees.
- So you can take all the honey that is at the top of your brood chamber, and put in a feeder which you will fill with about 20 liters (poured in 2 parts) of autumn syrup (2 sugar: 1 water ratio).
- If you have a hive box with a vent, consider turning it upside down, with the vent facing the roof. This will help limit robbing by wasps and other nearby hives.
- Feeding the hives must be done before the typical autumn temperature drops. When the syrup gets cold, the bees consume little or none of it. If you wait too long and the cold weather catches you by surprise, your bees will suffer from hunger during the winter because they won't have stored enough reserves. Here in southern Quebec, we start feeding at the beginning of September. It's important to plan this right after removing the honey supers because the hives could run out of resources if there isn't enough nectar available.
- Immediately after removing the honey supers, it's time to apply the varroa treatment. Take advantage of feeding time to insert strips of Apivar, Apistan, thymol, HopGuard, Formic Pro, or formic acid. Don't neglect this treatment, as a heavy varroa infestation in the hive could be fatal. Want to become a pro? Conduct a survey at the end of August to determine the infestation level in your colonies. This way, you'll know the appropriate treatment strength to apply. Confused by what you're seeing or unsure how to perform the survey? Ask us; our experts will be happy to advise you!
- A few days after feeding the syrup, check on your hive to see if it's taking in the food. You might be surprised at how hungry your bees were! Continue feeding gradually, not too quickly to avoid causing a brood nest freeze, and not too slowly so they have time to store everything before the cold weather arrives.
Questions? Write to us at info@propolis-etc.ca.
