​Winter Jobs for the Apiarist

WHAT CAN WE BE DOING IN WINTER NOW THAT THE HIVES ARE PACKED DOWN? from Keeping Backyard Bees
Cold weather is upon us and the bees have been prepped and tucked into their hives for the winter. Even though beekeepers are hands-off in the winter, it doesn’t mean that they stop their beekeeping activities. To the contrary, there are plenty of activities for beekeepers that keep them busy during the next few months.

Repairs

Repair and replace old hives. This is a great time to repair & paint/repaint honey supers, build new boxes  and replace worn frames and/or foundation. It’s also time to assemble new hives.

Prepare for splits

Prepare for spring splits. Most hives that come out of winter with strong numbers should be split. This will help to prevent swarming. Learn how to make splits and what equipment is necessary.

Build a Swarm Box

Losing half of your bees when they swarm is a real pain in the neck.
You can build a swarm box and set it up  in a tree near your hive/s.
Be ready to catch a swarm this spring with this fun project.