Beekeeping | Feeding Your Bees In The Winter In 30 Seconds

Beekeeping in the winter means feeding your bees a candy board but is it too cold to open the hive? I'll show you how to feed your bees in 30 seconds. It's important to reduce moisture in the hive with a candy board in the winter. Today we'll experiment with feeding our bees and monitoring the moisture at the same time.
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[@phyllisflorian3540]

(Sheri is your busy bee in the shipping department. Way to go, Sheri!👏👏👏) Couple of questions: 1) Are you planning to wrap those hives that are close to the building? I wrapped my hives last week after a few really chilly nights, now we have snow. Next week, back into the 40's...??!! (Someone asked if you should bring the hives into the unheated garage over the winter....🧐???) Also, is it a big boo-boo to have left the 'fortified' sugar water feeders for a few more days while I wait for my Winter-Bee-Kind, or should I put some bee candy in there for now??? Thanks for any info from you, David, or from our wonderful subscribers. I'm so happy to bee a part of this adventure! 😊🐝💖

[@marcellapaull4658]

Thanks! David you are such a blessing. You have taught me so much about helping my bees thrive.

[@beek]

Wow Marcella, thank you sooooo MUCH!!

[@mr.joshua1791]

Received and installed my winter bee kind yesterday! Thanks dave!!

[@beek]

Awesome, glad to hear that!! You were one of the lucky ones that ordered early. Thank you. They go on sale every August 1 and ship in cold weather. Good for you!

[@bryanbetournay5557]

I always love your videos David. In interested in your moisture level experiment. I too love my heated vest. Couldn't do the cold wet days outside without it. Keep up the great work.

[@beek]

Thank you Bryan and thanks for subscribing now for a year.

[@christinecontelmo9264]

Thanks!

[@beek]

Thanks Christine for the super thanks!! I really appreciate it.

[@dennisnieft1270]

Thanks David nice info on what's going on inside the hive.Time for a coffee time video to recap on all things in general.Great to hear that 100k is so close.Thanks so much for everything that you do to up us.

[@beek]

Yes, I've got a ton of ideas for future videos, it's like the "universe" keeps feeding me idea after idea and I want to do another coffee time soon.

[@roymaher8820]

Great video…I enjoyed your comments about tinkering and backyard science. That’s a big part of my interest in beekeeping!

[@beek]

Hi Roy, yes, most of the early discoveries of bees and equipment was from citizen scientist.

[@lilbit4877]

I just got my winter boards today. Ty. Where I live it has been around 20 degrees the past couple of weeks. I am excited to use them.

[@samwisegamgee8318]

How’d they end up working for you?

[@richardsims3092]

looking forward to listening to you at the hive life conference

[@beek]

Hi Richard BUT I will not be speaking. By the time Kamon and I connected his speaker spots were all full. But Sheri and I will be there and have a vendor spot. Maybe next year.

[@Dont780]

Thanks so much very informative!😊 I have bees. This is our second year, but it’s the first year they have stayed in winter 😊

[@beek]

Well, hopefully they will make it through winter.

[@framcesmoore]

Good Video David have a great day

[@short3358]

Awesome video! Enjoyed this. Just made my candyboard you sent.

[@carlland9024]

As a beekeeper that has made hundreds of your type of candy boards. I wonder if the 20 degree temp rise is from the residual heat escaping the two hour poured candy in the drying process. It seems like it takes several hours of curing time to not feel the heat any longer after I pour the candy into the boards. Carl

[@beek]

Probably, but the next video shows it in the 60s 23 hours later so the heat should have cured and reduced.

[@MrNeoflee]

Got my feeder yesterday! Thank you so much . Hoping it will be a game changer . Was hoping to also buy a winter feeding board but was “sold out “ so gonna have to go to a competitor 3:14 😢

[@off-trailseeking3965]

Thanks much David for you informative videos! I would be interested in seeing a dedicated video on the details of how you use the weather station.......what are good readings, how do the reading fluctuate, when are reading going bad for the bees and what action to take.

[@beek]

Great suggestion!

[@Nucandcrannyfarms]

Very interesting David , i wonder how much thing's change between the wrapped hives vs the unwrapped. Cheers to a hundred grand !

[@beek]

I'm hoping that if my channel continues to grow I can move more into full-time content on beekeeping here on KZbin. Now I'm trying to cram it in between all my other responsibilities.

[@feliciachitwood9400]

Thanks for this video it definitely made me feel better about getting into my bees 🐝 when it’s around 30*

[@beek]

Glad to help Felicia! As long as you are quick and do not lift out any frames.

[@lauragrandgenett]

I really appreciate your videos!

[@itsokaytobeclownpilled5937]

Thank you! Awesome vid. I put wax paper on the frames, granulated sugar on the wax paper, a spacer and a moisture board on a hive/swarm that found my vacant hive this past September. It snowed this last weekend and I expected all of them to die. Much to my surprise, there was only a few dead bees at the entrance. Maybe a swarm after June isn't doomed. When I first discovered these bees had taken up residence in a vacant hive, I went through the hive to look for wax moth damage and hive beetles. I didnt fool with the hive looking for brood or the queen. I am paranoid I will squish the queen.

[@beek]

That is interesting.

[@MsQuantized]

Love these experiments been thinking of doing similar.

[@beek]

Thank you. It's fun.

[@adamboychuk8221]

It's awesome what you do and thank you keep it up love the videos

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

Your almost to 100,000 Subscribers! Very exciting! God bless

[@richardmadsen3149]

Looks great!

[@WolfDragonTamer]

Final 500! Keep up the great content!

[@robertreynolds6427]

Thank you Sir!

[@kerrydills3240]

What is that sensor you used in there?

[@lou8891]

Both my winter b kind will b here tomorrow

[@beek]

Awesome, made and packed with love ❤️

[@andyrandles1901]

Hi David, very much appreciate your videos. I am a first year bee keeper with 2 hives in central lower Michigan. I placed a temp/humidity senor in 1 hive right below the winter be kind. Question.... what humidity should be the norm? What humidity level should I be considered with? Right now the outside Temps are in the mid 20's to low 30's with a 90% humidity. Inside hive temp/humidity is an avg of 48f and 68% humidity.

[@beek]

Hard to know what normal is but to be 18 degrees warmer and 28% less moisture is awesome 👏

[@FREEDOMTRUCKDRIVINGSCHOOL]

Thanks for the video

[@beek]

My pleasure.

[@carmelsmith8936]

great video, started bee keeping this year, this will be my first winter and i am in Canada. In one video, i saw you wrap your hives, but in this video they are not wrapped in insulation?? I was told not to wrap them so i am a bit confused on what to do. I am still looking to purchase the ingredients for the fall food for them here as well. Looking for a Canadian supplier but not having a lot of luck yet, love the winter boards you use!!! Do you ship them to Canada???

[@beek]

To wrap or not to wrap. Strong colonies probably don't need wrapped. Weak and sick colonies could probably benefit but a wind break is better.

[@texaschick6153]

I just stumbled upon this video. Thank you so much for the information. I volunteer at an Aquapanics Farm that works with special needs adults. We now have two beehives. I see that you are sold out of your winter be kind. Is there anywhere that sells something similar to this that we can purchase for our bees? We are very new to this and want to make sure that our bees are fed throughout the winter.

[@beek]

Glad you found my channel. I'm really hoping more will be available in January. I'm pushing for that, but fingers crossed.

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Feed them a good size tub of Bee Fondant : Place that Tub upside down, on some 1/2" Wood Timber Slats going Across the Frames ! So Bees have plenty of "Bee Space" to crawl from Frame Top, into Tub, have a Munch, and go back down ! Bee Fondant must be Bee Grade (not the Bakers type with added Corn Flour as a Stabilisers ! Bee can't eat that !) We couldn't afford David's Shipping Rates across the Pond ! To here in Scotland. 🤭 So we either Buy Tubs of Pre Weighed Volume (say 2lb Amounts.) Or ... Buy a Huge x26 lb Box of the stuff ! And Carve it Into the x lb need of the Hive !) It's super easy to Pop the Roof, add a Tub, or Tubs into a Super Box (as a Shim.) Put some kind of Material in that Space between Tub and Roof ! Bees have Hooked Feet, so don't use Fluffy or Fuzzy stuff like Cold Food Delivery Webbing, or Wool, or Burlap ! Unless it's above a barrier that the Bees can't get to, and get all caught up in your 'good deed concept' gone wrong (!) I have Chickens, so use ex Feed Sacks ! Plastic Woven, smooth, but let moisture rise, unlike say, a solid ex Compost Sack. That would cause Condensation to drop on the Bees. Reminder : 1) Upper Box where Bees are. 2) Add an Empty Deep, or Super Box as a Shim, aka Walls only. 3) Add some or several Wood Slats Across Bees (Space and they Support Weight of Tub, or Fondant Wrapped in Parchment Paper with a Hole in its underside... So Bees get in to Feed, but block doesn't Dry Out ! 4) Add a Breathable Sack Across whole Box, fold or tuck as necessary. Then : add Burlap (Coffee Sacks, Coffee Sacks with Sheep's Wool in them. Even Packaging Peanuts (those annoying fly away Styrofoam type. Or Maybe a Block of cut of Home Insulation Foiled Foam Builders Board. 5) Then the Roof. And a Big Rock ! Or all Tie down with a Rachet Strap. Hope this helps. 🤗 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2022. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 In the UK we call Sugar Fondant, Bakers Fondant ! (Hard Solid, Frosting ? Stateside.) Luckily our Food Stores don't add so many Additives, to food as in the USA. So we can buy "Fondant" in the Baking Aisle, or the Beekeeper Supplier Store. Just give Bees... Corn Flour (Corn Starch ?) That dusty white powder that stops food, going 'damp, soggy, splits, or spoils ! It's cheaper to buy x26 lbs premade. But some Beeks bulk by White Sugar, add heat and a 'drop of water' and Stir away ! It's very hard work to make Fondant, and Heated Sugar (to hot or high temps is toxic to Bees !) Or if your good at Carpentry. Have a Board, a Rim, Can pour Dampened Wet Sugar onto it, press in a Support Mesh, add more Damp Sugar. And allow Days for it to set Rock Hard....That's a DIY Candy Board ! I like Tubs ! A nice Sunny Cold Winter's Day. Pop the Roof, and a new Tub, remove the Empty. See any moving Bee. Done ! In x30 Seconds. And it included a Bee Inspection... They are Alive and Hungry ! 👍

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Texas Chick... What ever you choose, Feed the Bees as a Winter must ! Say Hi to the Kids and two Hives. 👋

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Texas Chick... Oops.... typo "DO NOT Feed any Corn Flour or Corn Starch"... To Bees. 👀

[@DooleyBFR]

You Like it Hot!!! LOL!!! Come down here in Hillbilly Coal Country! We Build a coal fire in the Buck stove strip down to our underware and open the windows n doors!! LMBO! Thats Hot Bubby!!! God Bless!!!

[@suzanneferracane2083]

How do you make your candy boards

[@rmore935]

Can you post your recipe for the candy for 1 or two boards It's tricky with heat too.

[@beek]

Yes, it has always been on my website honeybeesonline.com Look under the winter-bee-kind product description at the bottom. They are TRICKY to make. Unless you are an experience candy maker, it has a stiff learning curve.

[@pamtewes5276]

I am wondering about placement of my candy board. I have a single deep box (smaller hive with very little honey stores). I have a honey super on top, about 1/2 full. If I put my candy board on top of the super, will they travel up that much to get the food? Or should I put the candy board right over the cluster (under the honey super). Also , should the hole in the candy board be in the front or back. Thank you!

[@beek]

In my recent video the bees came up from the lower deep through their filled honey super onto the winter bee kind in 23 hours. Hole in front

[@FshHnt192]

Hi David, I was wondering if there was any way to store the candy boards for next fall? I ordered 2 from you and and I just got my shipping notification but as luck would have it, I just went into my hive to remove the sugar syrup feeder and board and it looks my hive has died. 😟

[@beek]

Oh wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Yes, you can store them in the freezer.

[@FREEDOMTRUCKDRIVINGSCHOOL]

If you put hand warmers on the winter be kind would it help?

[@FREEDOMTRUCKDRIVINGSCHOOL]

Or a heating pad

[@roymclean1345]

How important is ventilation in a hive during winter should I leave a small hole at the bottom open and one at the top to help carry out the moisture or should I close it off totally at the bottom and please send me a link where I can order some of your winter be kind board

[@beek]

Hi Roy, I would advise you BUT unfortunately, I have no idea what country, climate or part of the world you live in. The answer can be different based on where you live. We are sold out of WBKS.

[@todpatn9782]

Your almost there

[@beek]

I started beekeeping videos on KZbin in 2008 and it hasn't been until the last couple of years that my video channel has gain significant traction. All because of my great, loyal followers. Thank you.

[@todpatn9782]

@@beek you knew what. I meant too.

[@carrollscott8865]

Chicken coop. You can shovel snow from entrance if need be

[@randyhahn3346]

What is the instrument you are using to monitor inside the hive?

[@beek]

Hi Randy, thanks for being a subscriber for 1 year. The sensor in this video is from my weather station. It is an extra feature that my weather station came with that monitors any area indoors. So I just used it outdoors protected from the weather. Here's my affiliate link to my weather station: amzn.to/3EhZPsV

[@debrakwiley6362]

What if I just add sugar on the hive when it’s winter

[@captbriansbees]

Is one candy board enough for winter feeding?

[@beek]

My hives usually require 4 even with a deep and super with honey. That why we include the recipe.

[@WildlifeAdventuresWithVincent]

Your so close to 100k!

[@beek]

I know, so close!!

[@jerrysturm6502]

Is there a video on how to make your candy boards

[@beek]

Seems like I made one years ago

[@jonathanwhite459]

How many colonies do you keep?

[@beek]

Too many for just "me and a tripod".

[@JoeHHarrell]

Wish I'd seen this video about a week earlier, I recently made candy for my winter bee kind (just bought the frame) and put it on the hive. Started without a veil and had to cover it back up and run get one. Had trouble getting the bees off the feeding system board I was taking off, lost a decent sized clump down the front of the hive between it and the insulating wrap I had just put on, they landed in front of the hive opening but I think it was too cold for them to make it back inside, left them alone figuring that trying to mess with saving them would put the others in danger. Now I'm not looking forward to checking on the winter bee kind in a few weeks for fear of screwing up again. I know it's a learning process but it's hard to contemplate losing them when you're just starting out since they are a somewhat pricy investment.

[@beek]

Yup, bees are very different in how they respond to winter.

[@pencintalebah]

Amazing sir

[@beek]

Many many thanks

[@Zarealy]

Citizen scientists, I kinda like that!

[@beek]

Hi Luke, yes, I like that term and it really empowers those of us who are smart and hard workers but may not have a tone of degrees and letters after our name. We can still be giant contributors to awesome discoveries.

[@redflag4781]

Just give them fondant as a safety net.

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

Do you feed your bees syrup all winter ?

[@jasongannon7676]

Now you need to place a camera in the hive

[@beek]

I've tried but with bee space only being 1/4-3/8 inch there is just now room.

[@neilvandermeer213]

Tv repair

[@beek]

Were you a TV repairman?📺

[@neilvandermeer213]

@@beek Hi David burns your a really sweet guy(honey) yes I was a tv repairman.