Creating Colony Strength/Health For 1st

Winter Survival

• This presentation represents things that work for me, your experiences will vary

• I take a reality based approach, not much on philosophy• This presentation is intended to help you recognize problems,

find documentation and assistance for speedy resolution• This presentation is not intended to discuss detailed problem

solutions• Your environment will be different from everyone's, 2 miles

down the road the microenvironment will be different

This Presentation And Statements

• Any advice you read, see or hear could be great or not so good, soak it up, find what works for you

• Don’t listen to anyone who says only their way works• Criticism, don’t let anyone crack your perseverance• Beekeeping is enjoyable and rewarding but not effortless or

free of expense (beehavers vs beekeepers)• As a beekeeper, you will get sweaty, stung and sticky• Honeybees are living creatures, they deserve compassion,

respect and a dedicated effort• The Only Time You Need To Look For A Queen Is If You Have

To Do Something With Her

This Presentation And Statements…continued

This Presentation And Statements…continued

• Mentors are invaluable,… in your hive or with them in theirs…, buy lunch

• Don’t panic but, if something doesn’t make sense or seem right, look for and get advice quickly

• Always have a smoker lit• Practice lighting your smoker before you open a hive• Always wear a veil, have gloves with you when you open a hive• Acute close up vision is important, REQUIRED, you must be

able to see eggs in cells

• Get Rid Of ALL Your Insecticides, they're designed to kill bugs, honeybees are bugs

• Before you enter a hive, have a mental or written plan, its easy to get distracted, intimidated

• Be prepared to abort your plan and try again on a different day• Beekeeping success is greatly influenced by the weather, it’s more

unpredictable than farming or gardening (weather sensitivity)• Rain washes nectar and pollen out of blooms, spring and the main

flow can be a complete washout (about 14 weeks)• Honeybees can’t work in the rain, producers vs consumers• Please be patient and thank you for taking on beekeeping

This Presentation And Statements…continued

First Year Hive Components

Top and Inner cover

2 Deeps & maybe a third to place over the inner cover just to cover or house feeder jars

2nd box added after bottom box is almost completed

7 days after installation observe:

• Get In And Get Out, Do Not Look For The Queen• 5 to 7 days since your package or NUC was installed• Weather could be cool during the days and freezing at night• Bees will cluster when cold for warmth, survival• Enter hive ONLY when temperature is above 50°, low wind• Move slowly, deliberately • Always have a smoker lit, no oily smoke, don’t burn fabrics,

sticks are free and readily available

• If you started with a package; Queen should be released from the cage,… take it out

• Get In And Get Out, Do Not Look For The Queen• Make sure the cage is empty & any attached comb doesn’t

have bees attached • If you started with a NUC eggs should be present • Must be feeding 1:1 sugar syrup• Entrance reduced• Screened bottom closed

7 Days After Installation Observe:

What If My Queen Isn’t Released ?• Option 1:

• Put the queen cage back in the hive and come back in 4 days• Pierce the candy plug with a safety pin or frame nail (hole smaller

than a bee)• Option 2: (Increased risk)

• Carefully release the queen

:7 Or 10 Days After Installation Observe

What If My Queen Is Dead?• This Requires Immediate Correction.• Contact the person you purchased your package from• Get a new queen somewhere, Internet, mentor, ask for help

If you started with a package, this is what you want to see on your first visit

Ten Frames

Feeding• Feed 1:1 sugar syrup, (corn syrup?,… I

don’t like it)• Use granulated sugar / 1:1 by weight or

volume• Feed syrup cooled/warmed to room

temperature• Only feed only in portions that can be

consumed in a week or less,… clean the jar then replenish

• Mold in syrup can be fatal• This Retards Mold Growth---->

• Microwave preparation retards mold growth• Do not use an entrance feeder• Feed on/from top, I use qt. jars with perforated lids,

inner covers, leave this on as long as the bees consume it, (all summer long if necessary)

-or-• Until 15 frames are nearly drawn / filled• Pollen substitute optional, not consumed as well if

natural pollen is present

Feeding, continued

Jar Hive-top Feeding

Inner Cover Feeder boardTogether

I have had the best success using this method

•10 to 14 days since your package or NUC was installed•Weather is variable. •Cold and rainy (not good) or could be hot and clear (better?) •Plants in bloom now (maybe), flow picking up• Low lying flowering plants, Maple, small trees • Look for pollen on inbound field bees legs• Eggs should be present, You Need To See Them; “Queenright

Colony”• Look for brood stages•Don’t look for the queen • Should be feeding 1:1 sugar syrup

10 To 14 Days After Installation Observe:

You Need To Be Able To See Eggs In Cells

Eggs And Larva

This is what you want to see in about 7-14 days

For Winter Survival, Healthy Cluster Of Bees, Two Deep Boxes All

Frames Drawn, 60 Pounds Stored

Capped Brood And Honey(Looks Good)

Full Frame Of Brood With Pollen(Looks Good)

Full Frame of Brood with Capped Honey(looks good)

Strong, Healthy, Established Colony Frame (Looks Good)

Small Hive Beetle(Watch: Return Required For Follow-up)

Small Hive Beetle Damage To Weak Colony(Action Required)

Parasites Varroa Mites(Action Required)

Where Are The Eggs, New / Young Brood, Queen?(Look Further Follow-up Required)

Drone Laying Worker, No Or Failed Queen (Action Required)

Laying Worker Drone Brood, No Or Failed Queen(Action Required)

Queen Supercedure Cell Why A New Queen?(Follow-up Required In About 21 Days For New Brood)

Queen Swarm Cells(Follow-up Required In About 21 Days For New

Brood)

Brood Indicating Failure(Action Required)

Foulbrood(Action Required)

How To Get There• Learn to recognize a failing colony and strive to fix it

• Inspect your colony every 10 to 14 days through the seasons up and through the first hard freeze

• Rapid problem resolution is important

• Make sure your colony is queenright, Look For Eggs

• Make sure you have a reliable queen breeder in mind

• Consider and adjust based on the effects of the weather

• Some queens are just duds, poor breeding or mating, replace them

• Building strong colonies sometimes means feeding for an extended time (Sometimes All Summer Long)

• Consult a mentor

• Join a local beekeeping group

Thanks, Kevin Kress