Overwintering

[thomaso123t]

Hi all.

What would be the minimum number of frames to overwinter bees in national hive?
I have a relatively small colony which covers about 8 frames at this moment and I am wandering how much should I reduce the size of the hive for the winter?



Thanks
Tom

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

You don't need to reduce them at all - they'll fill up the unoccupied frames with stores for the winter - how much brood is there

 

[thomaso123t]

Hi.
Thank you for your comments. 2 and half frames of brood.

 

[maddydog]

Your colony seems fine imho. Potentially still a couple of months of brooding in Woking? Monitor stores level as normal and a bit of insulation (if they haven't already got it)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi.
Thank you for your comments. 2 and half frames of brood.

if they don't expand in the next few weeks I'd slap them in a 6 frame nuc

 

[thomaso123t]

Great, thank you both for your comments.