The Beekeeping Year
This month in the hive
Winter preparation is in full swing with the focus on ensuring a strong colony with ample stores. If you're feeding 1:1 syrup, this month we'll wean them off (remember, 1:1 stimulates drawing comb and has a higher water content - meaning it will take more energy to convert it to stored honey).
New Hives:
Inspect the hive weekly or bimonthly, looking for the Queen and eggs.
SLOWLY wean your hive(s) off 1:1 sugar syrup.
Perform a mite count and treat accordingly.
Overwintered Hives:
Pull any remaining (empty) honey supers from the hives.
Check the hive weight.
Begin feeding 2:1 sugar syrup (Add lemongrass oil, Honey-B-Healthy, etc.).
Perform a mite count and treat accordingly.