tips about over wintering bees

[itma]

.
Why to gather winter stores from honey?

In my case, I'm happy that they should have Ivy honey as the basis of their winter stores.
It comes along at the right time (and keeps coming through November), it is strange-tasting and sets solid. The bees are far happier with it than people are!

 

[user 6228]

In my case, I'm happy that they should have Ivy honey as the basis of their winter stores.
It comes along at the right time (and keeps coming through November), it is strange-tasting and sets solid. The bees are far happier with it than people are!

we have a lot of ivy round here as well as heather and winter flowering plants in peoples gardens. we will have to extract at least a little to see what it tastes like...but here it is unlikely to taste of any one thing.
Just looking at a pollen sample last night and even I could recognise that there waere at least 5 types of pollen in one field of view.

 

[Toffeesmum]

don't worry about it, that's par for the course

 

[Finman]

In my case, I'm happy that they should have Ivy honey as the basis of their winter stores.
It comes along at the right time (and keeps coming through November), it is strange-tasting and sets solid. The bees are far happier with it than people are!

In Germany beekeepers leave sun flower honey intp hives, because its value is almost like sugar.

.

 

[aidskywalker]

Hi aidskywalker,
I am glad that you are a new beek and planning ahead. The most important aspect of overwintering which I have learnt from this forum is to avoid isolation starvation by feeding fondant straight on top of the top bars, so the cluster can easily get to it.

so without sounding stupid, you put fondant on the top bars, then cover with a super? Would the crown board go on top of the super? Will this create unwanted space? Guide me through it.

 

[VEG]

so without sounding stupid, you put fondant on the top bars, then cover with a super? Would the crown board go on top of the super? Will this create unwanted space? Guide me through it.

Usually an eke is placed on to of brood then crown board. Some crown boards have an eke built in.

 

[user 6228]

Usually an eke is placed on to of brood then crown board. Some crown boards have an eke built in.

you need to keep any eke as shallow as possible and add insulation to cover unused top surface area to be thermally effiient

 

[BeeJayBee]

so without sounding stupid, you put fondant on the top bars, then cover with a super? Would the crown board go on top of the super? Will this create unwanted space? Guide me through it.

Fill any space above the food with insulation. A bag of polystyrene chips, bubble wrap, a space blanket from 99p shop - any of those will do. If you can get hold of some kingspan you can cut it to size and/or make an eke out of it. It looks neater.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Usually an eke is placed on to of brood then crown board. Some crown boards have an eke built in.

Useful to make your own crown board shallow space one side, extended (eke) on the other. Thus by turning it over it can serve both purposes or you can keep it standard way up and employ a plywood sheet to give a sealed fondant space.

 

[Outlander]

What are you doing sleeping with Grumpy and does his wife know?

 

[itma]

Useful to make your own crown board shallow space one side, extended (eke) on the other. Thus by turning it over it can serve both purposes ...

Yes, and the 'eke' protects a Celotex insulation square very nicely.


You can also make such a thing with a big central hole.
Beespace rim downwards this is a feeder board.
Turned over, and with a rhombus attached (on the tall eke side) by some small screws, it becomes a clearer board.