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Breeding bees is a vast industry with its own characteristics. With the advent of winter, the work of beekeepers does not end. They are faced with the task of preserving bee colonies for further development. One of the most important issues related to the planning of bee wintering is the question of how to leave honey frames for the bees for the winter. Of particular importance are the varieties, the amount of food and the conditions of winter maintenance of bee colonies.
How much honey do bees need for wintering
The bees remain active throughout the winter. For wintering, families need quality food. Beekeepers plan in advance the amount of honey that should be left for the bees for the winter.
Wintering depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In some areas, winter can last up to 5 months. To protect the bee hive and save insects, it is recommended to take care of creating conditions in advance. There are 2 types of conditions for keeping bees in winter:
- Wintering in a warm room, when the hives are placed on the territory of heated spaces.
- Wintering on the street, when the hives are placed under the covers of wintering houses or additionally insulated.
The amount of feed product is determined by several criteria:
- climate region;
- wintering method;
- composition and strength of the bee colony.
The beekeepers of the northern regions of the country confirm the data that the average bee family in the hive needs to leave from 25 to 30 kg of honey for the winter. In the south and west of the country, it is enough to leave feed with a total volume of 12 to 18 kg.
It is possible to calculate how much honey bees need for the winter, taking into account the breed of bees, the conditions of the region, and the yield of the product.
breed of bees | approximate amount of honey | Features |
Central | up to 25 – 30 kg | resistant to low temperatures, flower types are suitable |
mountain sulfur Caucasian | up to 20 kg | resistant to frost, able to winter on buckwheat in the conditions of habitat at home |
Carpathian | up to 20 kg | do not endure lower temperatures, winter in their native area on any species, except for honeydew and heather |
Italian | up to 18 kg | unsuitable for keeping in regions with severe winters, tolerate wintering on flower types |
Some beekeepers calculate the amount of honey needed by bees for the winter, relying on the amount that a certain colony produced during the season:
- 14,5 kg of honey is produced by a family on which 15 kg of feed is spent;
- 23,5 kg of prey can be expected from families with food from 15 to 20 kg;
- 36 kg are obtained by bees, for which 30 kg are spent on food.
These are statistics, the indicators of which may vary depending on the regions.
What kind of honey do bees hibernate on?
Honeycombs to be left are preliminarily inspected. They should not contain less than 2 kg of product, the cells should be well sealed. In this state, honey is better preserved, does not turn sour and does not lose its beneficial properties.
Varieties that are left for wintering may be different. Do not use heather and honeydew species. Honeydew honey is harvested from the leaves and may contain dextrins and protein metabolites from parasitic insects. Dangerous for insects in winter is food with an admixture of honeydew. Alkali metals, which are contained in the composition, settle on the walls of the intestines of bees and lead to fatal indigestion.
The only way to avoid such a problem is to completely remove honeydew from the hive.
Varieties that are prone to rapid crystallization are not suitable for wintering. These are species collected from cruciferous plant types, as well as eucalyptus and cotton. To reduce the risk of pomor, you must:
- exclude rapidly crystallizing species;
- leave light brown combs in the hive;
- ensure the humidity in the winter hut is at least 80 – 85%.
Features of wintering of bees on sunflower honey
Sunflower is a variety that is harvested from an oilseed crop, sunflower. It is the leader in glucose content. Many beekeepers have learned to use it as food, which is left for the winter. The main disadvantage of the product is rapid crystallization.
When using a sunflower variety in winter, it is necessary to add additional feeding. For this, self-prepared sugar syrup is suitable, which is added to the hives.
A few rules that will help to transfer the wintering of bees on sunflower honey:
- leave light honeycombs, this slows down the crystallization process;
- use sunflower honey of the first selection;
- maintain an optimal level of humidity in the winter hut.
Can bees overwinter on rapeseed honey?
The variety is harvested from a cruciferous plant, rapeseed, which appeared as a result of selective crossbreeding. This grade differs in indicators of fast crystallization.
Rapeseed honey is not recommended to be left for wintering. Beekeepers who plan to breed colonies and value their reputation as a supplier of a quality product pump out rapeseed honey as it blooms and leave other varieties to winter.
Overwintering of bees with rapeseed honey is possible in the southern regions, but it can be complicated by emerging problems. The crystallization of the rapeseed variety is characterized by increased hardening rates. For the continued existence of the bee colony, it is necessary to feed it with sugar syrup. The use of syrup as the main feed material can lead to spring death.
How bees hibernate on buckwheat honey
Buckwheat is harvested from buckwheat flowers, it is characterized by a dark brown hue. It has useful properties. Buckwheat honey is suitable for the treatment of multiple human diseases, but it is not recommended to use it for wintering bees. The buckwheat variety is categorically unsuitable for farms located in Western and Central Siberia. When using it, spring nosematosis is observed in bees, as a result of which most of them die, and the rest come out of wintering weakened.
On the territory of Siberia, buckwheat is pumped out of the hive long before the bee colonies prepare for wintering.
In the European part of the country, buckwheat is considered suitable for wintering due to a shift in the timing of crystallization due to changes in temperature. It is left for wintering, but additional feeding is provided with self-prepared sugar syrup.
Other types of honey for wintering bees
Beekeeping as an industry keeps statistics on the quality and quantity of nectar, the data collected facilitates the process of planning wintering on honey. The best option that is suitable for keeping families in winter, minimizes the risk of developing nosematosis and reduces the rate of spring deadness, is the choice of flower varieties.
These include linden, herbs, sweet clover, fireweed, acacia varieties. These species are popular in the market, so beekeepers sometimes save money when calculating the amount of product that needs to be left for the winter.
In addition, one should take into account the supply of fodder honey, which must be left in the hive for the bees for the winter in case of shortage. It should be stored separately from the wintering room and should be approximately 2 – 2,6 kg for one family.
Feed preparation rules
Before adding additional food, beekeepers prepare the nest for winter. The life of bees at low temperatures depends on the state of the nest. The main condition is the installation of feed: its amount depends on the strength of the bee colony.
- strong families need 8 to 10 frames;
- medium – from 6 to 8 frames;
- weak – from 5 to 7 frames.
The frames must be completely filled with honey and sealed. Full-honey frames are considered that are filled with 2 or 2,5 kg of the product.
The main food product is light varieties, the task of the beekeeper in the fall is to check for the presence of honeydew impurities. The product with an admixture is not left for the winter to exclude Pomor.
There are several ways to do this:
- From different cells collect about 1 tbsp. l. honey, mixed with 1 tbsp. l. water. The liquid is diluted with 10 parts of ethyl alcohol, then shaken. The presence of a cloudy sediment is evidence of honeydew admixture. If the liquid remains clean, then such a product is completely suitable for food during the wintering of bees.
- With lime water. Honey is stirred in a small amount of lime water, then boiled. The presence of flakes indicates an admixture of honeydew.
During wintering, additional dressings are added in the form of sugar syrup, candy or natural honey. Feed the bees depending on the size and condition of the family.
Terms and rules for laying frames with honey
The periods of preparation of families for the upcoming wintering differ depending on the region. Where cold winters prevail, with low night temperatures, preparations begin in September. The southern regions are prepared for wintering later, in early October.
The position of the frames in the hive is determined by the following requirements:
- Small-copper frames are installed in the center of the hive, this is necessary so that families can accommodate here in a familiar club.
- Full-copper frames are placed at the edges, strictly one behind the other.
- The number of frames is calculated according to the principle of stockpiling: if the bees densely cover 6 frames, then 7 frames are left for wintering.
- Before being placed in the wintering hives are checked again. If the extreme frames are not completely filled with the product, then they are replaced with full-copper ones and left for the winter.
Conclusion
Leaving honey frames for bees for the winter is a necessity that all beekeepers know about. The future life of the bee family depends on the amount of honey, the correct installation, and the formation of the nest. The choice of variety for feed affects the development of the strength of adults, their entry into spring and work for the future of the apiary.
