Advice for winter

[fast_muchly]

We have a strong national hive doing well.

Good weather here at moment and bees very busy bringing in the good stuff.

One national BB with a mixture of eggs,larvae,honey stores on frames.

2 supers above nearly full off honey most are capped.

What should we do now having had some summer honey as well to prepare for winter.Im a little confused with lots of different opinions of putting Supers under BB and some say above.

I was hoping to take some frames off and have some more honey but how would you go about leaving some for the bees to over winter with please in this setup.and how many frames to leave behind for them saying its a bad winter as these are on an allotment and will get all sorts of weather thrown at them and yes we do insulate them.

Thanks

Also wanting to take honey off now and treat apiguard.

 

[Galaxy55]

Been a beginner myself I think it is all about personal preference. I agree, I find my self in a similar position with all the different advice.
I think the key things are
1/ To leave the bees with 1 super full of honey or a (Nadir) its name changes if you put it under the BB.
2/ To fully check the and assess what they need.
3/ To check the varroa drop and if necessary treat.
4/ Strap the hive to ensure it is secure.

The hard thing I have found is when to do this. As you have said they are still very busy but what I have notice is the level of brood is reducing so they are preparing for winter. But all the bees in the hive at the moment aren't the bees that are going to be in there over winter. So my advice would be don't interfere with them too much, take the additional supers off when they are capped and pay attention to what the bees are telling you.

Mark

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

An remember - if you are leaving a box of stores on for the bees - remove the queen excluder

 

[JohnyP]

There it is again.... nadir, nadir nadir

 

[Dishmop]

One day.......................

perhaps...............I wonder if ........


bees might change what they have been doing for millions of years and decide to alter where they put their stores.....