Have you ever wondered what beekeepers do during the winter months? Most often there is very little to be done within the hive once winter starts. That being said, beekeepers spend a significant amount of time planning and preparing for the upcoming spring. Beekeepers also know they must respect the natural rhythms of their colonies during the colder months. Read this week’s blog, along with those that will follow in this series, to learn more about a beekeeper’s calendar during each season.
Beekeeper’s Calendar Series: Winter
The onset of the winter beekeeping season starts after hives
have been wrapped and insulated. If all preparation was done well, beekeepers
have very little practical hive management to do during the winter months. It
is good practice to occasionally check hives, especially after severe weather
events to address any potential damage. Other than that, beekeepers should not
disturb the winter cluster by opening the hive. This practice acknowledges the
importance of allowing the bees to maintain their tightly knit cluster, which
serves as a crucial mechanism for conserving warmth and energy during the
colder months. Bees will remain clustered throughout the winter but will leave
the hive for cleansing flights on warmer days.
There is often a question of whether snow should be removed
from hives throughout the winter. Overall, snow removal is deemed unnecessary
as snow will provide additional insulation, contributing to the hive’s thermal
regulation. It is important that the top entrance remains unobstructed by snow,
thereby facilitating proper airflow, but the use of a telescoping cover should address
this concern.
One other thing beekeepers should periodically check for is
damage caused by skunks and raccoons. Skunks and raccoons start breeding in
late winter. They may start ripping
plastic and pulling out entrance reducers. Beekeepers should check hives and
fix if necessary.
So, what are beekeepers busy doing during the winter months?
Mostly, winter is when beekeepers plan for the upcoming spring. Now is the time
to build and repair beekeeping equipment. Also, to be ready for spring,
beekeepers should order any wooden ware or bees they will need. Ordering these
items during winter ensures that beekeepers have everything they need on hand
when the spring season commences. Overall, winter serves as a crucial planning
and preparation period, allowing beekeepers to potentially grow their operation
in the upcoming season.
The other important thing beekeepers will spend their
offseason doing is attending meetings, taking various beekeeping courses, and
reading new research. All of these things help keep beekeepers educated on what
is happening in the industry, as well as knowledgeable about the latest
advancements in beekeeping and integrate new, evidence-based, approaches into
their own practices.
Beekeepers should attend provincial beekeeping associations
annual general meetings. Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
all have annual general meetings during the months of January to March. Atlantic
beekeepers should consider attending ATTTA’s virtual winter workshop series.
All Canadian beekeepers can attend the BeeTech conference presented by the Canadian
Honey Council and the Canadian Association for Professional Apiculturists this February.
Finally, Atlantic beekeepers should consider enrolling in the Fundamentals of
Beekeeping course presented by ATTTA and Dalhousie Extended Learning, which will
start this March.
The winter months may appear quiet within the hives, but for
beekeepers, these months are still a crucial part in the beekeeper calendar.
This time is needed to plan for the upcoming season, and, even during the
coldest months of the year, beekeepers still need to check that the hives look
good externally. Additionally, winter is a season for education and growth for
beekeepers. Engaging in meetings, enrolling in courses, and reading academic
research, helps keep beekeepers educated and engaged with their industry. Stay
tuned for more insights into a beekeeper's calendar throughout each season in
future blogs from ATTTA.
Connecting with ATTTA Specialists
If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:
visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/
Email abyers@perennia.ca