As November coldly and quietly creeps into the Midwest, beekeepers are facing colder temperatures and shorter days. This time of year, the main beekeeping season is over, and we should have ensured hive are well-prepared to survive the winter months. Here are some key tasks to keep your bees healthy and safe until spring.
1. Check Hive Weight
By November, you should have a clear idea of how much honey and stored food your bees have going into winter. Ideally, each hive should weigh around 80 to 100 pounds. If you have concerns about the food supply, this is the time to add emergency feed options like a candy board or fondant, as liquid feed isn’t ideal in the cold. Fondant boards can be purchased at many suppliers, or you can watch our video on how we do it at the bottom of this entry.
2. Insulate and Windproof the Hives
Peoria, and Midwest, winters are unpredictable, so providing some insulation is a good idea. You can wrap your hives with a specialized beekeeping winter wrap or use simple insulation boards to help keep the colony warm. At Riverview Road Apiary we have used all sorts of insulation techniques. We would suggest something like a bee cozy, or making a frame that you then screw R10 insulation to as a sort of dog house around the hives. We have found that bees use about half of the honey they normally consume doing this.
3. Manage Hive Ventilation
This is very contriversial. Here, we do not ventilate our hives. We don't like a draft in our home, and the bees seal things in attempts to remove ones from theirs. We make sure that they have weight for winter stores, add emergency fondant patties, and insulate. A tree normally has an insulation value (R value) of about 10. It also acts as a giant heat sink and stays pretty warm until spring. We cannot duplicate the heat sink, but we can keep the girls as warm as we can. If you don't believe us, try Scientific Beekeeping: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/understanding-colony-buildup-and-decline-part-13c/
4. Perform a Final Mite Check
November is often the last chance to check mite levels before full winter dormancy. We treat with vaporized Oxylic Acid for this final treatment. It has a great drop rate and limited damage to the hive. Treating for mites helps ensure your bees enter winter in the best health possible, giving them a greater chance of survival.
5. Set Up a Mouse Guard
As temperatures drop, rodents look for warm places to nest, and hives can be an appealing option. While the bees can normally handle a stray mouse, it's easier if we just stop that problem before it starts. Installing a mouse guard at the entrance can prevent rodents from entering and destroying comb or consuming honey stores.
6. Reduce the Entrance
Reduce the hive entrance to help bees guard against robbing by other colonies and to reduce wind flow into the hive. A smaller entrance also means bees expend less energy defending it, conserving resources they’ll need for winter. A mouse guard this time of year normally is enough of a reduction for a hive to make it.
7. Observe and Take Notes
November is an excellent time to reflect on the year’s beekeeping journey. Take notes on what went well, what challenges you faced, and anything you want to improve next season. Detailed records are invaluable for making adjustments and enhancing your hive management in the years to come. We use a google spreadsheet and update that on our phone as we visit our different out yards.
8. Plan Ahead for Spring
While November is primarily about prepping for winter, start thinking ahead to spring. This is a great time to order any new equipment or bees if you plan to expand your apiary. Consider attending or viewing winter workshops or beekeeping seminars or even our beekeeping podcast Beekeeping Buddies to learn more and prepare for the next season. We will be going to the North American Honeybee Expo https://www.nahbexpo.com/ where we look forward to learning more during our beekeeping journey.
Link to our video:
https://youtu.be/Ri6gnZEenx0