Working On Next Year

I've built another three medium supers with foundation filled frames for next spring when we'll hopefully split the hive, and maybe into three hives, so I'll be busy over the winter building more hive parts. This new base is a little different than the others, that the front is sloped away to keep water off the deck, which can be a problem for the girls. As well the bottom is screened for ventilation in the summer, and I can put in the bottom board in the winter. I constructed the bottom board so it can be reversible, one side with poly to protect the wood and the other has a grid on it for mite counting in the fall.

With the weather starting to remain about 5° C during the day we thought it's time to put on the winter wrap, and once we started the last pail of sugar syrup was not fully drawn down, this is an indication they have filled all the remaining cells with food and are ready for winter. The cut outs are positioned over vent holes in each super and well back from the top vent, this will help reduce carbon dioxide build up which can be dangerous for a colony over the winter. The inside cover has three layers of two sided thermal bubble wrap to keep the heat in, and with 48 mil rubber membrane covering the hole hive it should be dry. We'll be keeping an eye on them throughout the winter, after all it's our first colony.

New hive with stand ready for next year.

A new design base and bottom board.

Mite inspection grid showing.

Winter wrap on and ready.

Coming out the top vent, very good.

Entrance accessible with wire mesh to help keep out shrews. 

Getting Ready For Winter

Last month we took out the Apivar strips and the girls were a bit agitated, as this time of the year robbing goes on so they are always on guard and when we took of the inner cover to remove the strips well lets just say they showed they weren't too happy. On the plus side the colony did look very strong.

I recently got a hold of some heavy duty rubber, that was used a s pool/pond liner that did work, so I made my own version of a winter wrap. Basically we are just trying to keep them dry, they'll take care of the keeping themselves warm. I also put vent holes in each super so they can get out for a cleansing flight and let out deadly carbon dioxide, which can build up in the winter as they are covered. I also made an new entrance reducer with a wire mesh that has ¼ grid, the bees can get out and mice and shrews should not be able to get in and cause havoc. I constructed a new outer cover a bit large to accommodate the rubber wrap.

Strong colony.

They look healthy.

New entrance reducer.

Fitting the wrap.

Positioning opening for the vent holes.

Glued together and a board inside, with screws for strength.

New outer cover fits snug.

Ready for when the time is right.