What am I meant to be doing this time of the year...

[For want of a better word]

What am I meant to be doing this time of the year...

Taking pressies of loverly honey around to all those who helped you last season.... with the hope they will help you in the next!

Yeghes da

 

[user 6228]

... With the bees, they have fondant. Do I just leave them and hope for the best?

I know some insulate hives, I have not.
They had a good stock of suger and water leading up to this colder spell.

Thanks,

Jon

At this time of year one starts arguments

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

At this time of year one starts arguments

Utter rubbish!

Retract that daft idea at once!

Dusty

 

[Millet]

Utter rubbish!

Retract that daft idea at once!

Dusty

Are you trying to cause a argument,

 

[madasafish]

Utter rubbish!

Retract that daft idea at once!

Dusty

"Peace and goodwill" a bit short?

Keep people warm and start lots of arguments instead

 

[Farmer Tom]

At this time of year one starts arguments

All together now.... "Oh No One Doesn't!"

 

[GJUK]

Can't help thinking Jon, that as you have been a member of this forum since Feb 2011, maybe you should know by now what you should or shouldn't be doing this time of year! Beekeeping is, as we all know a continuous learning curve, but 5 years in, you should know the basics....

I signed up in 2011, asked perhaps one question. Then took up training and bee keeping this year.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I signed up in 2011, asked perhaps one question. Then took up training and bee keeping this year.

Ok we've established you're in your first year as a beekeeper and had some training. What did the training include and have you followed this forum regularly or just come here infrequently?

 

[Madge]

...
I know some insulate hives, I have not.
They had a good stock of suger and water leading up to this colder spell.

Thanks,

Jon

Add insulation above the crown board, particularly if it is a wooden hive.

Check that they have candy or fondant above the cluster. It's sometimes too cold for them to break the cluster and move to honey combs either side of them - so something above their heads may help.

Anyway, that's what I do, and I have almost never lost a colony over winter.