Bees survived the Winter? Now What!?

What do you do with your bees now that they have made it through the Winter? Here's what I do.

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Wish I had a resource if information like this when I first started out

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Thanks so much Ian.

[@AmericansBee]

Im glad i have you two!!!

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Great video! I like the story telling through the drawings

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Hey Ian, have you let your bees out of the shed yet?

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Beats looking at me!!

[@louberger8863]

I 2nd that! I really like your visuals and explanations. Thanks

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

Listened to an interesting discussion by Bill Hesbech on the Connecticut Beekeepers Association page about reversing vs not. He does a really good q and a every month.

[@davidmaloney2724]

Best idea for small colonies good job on the video

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Thanks!

[@scentsbyemebathbody3161]

Great info ! Thanks 😊

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Any time!

[@davidsoloninka7742]

Thx Peter, u r an excellent teacher!

[@kellywilson7893]

Thank You

[@rufusdufus5856]

Really excited to find your site! As an amateur in NH, I’m so grateful a ME channel exists! With a Canadian Bee keeping Blog’s seal of approval!

[@williambates6811]

South Central Maine here. I am looking forward to being able to check how the bees are doing. Three of five hives survived the winter. Thanx for the great videos

[@heidiravenscraft8604]

I have a double nuc.

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Howdy Peter, thanks for the season ques. I am about at the same place spring wise, we got 2 ft of snow last weekend. There is about 8" of slush out there right now. Swamp Alders are giving up some pollen, the first natural pollen of the season here in central NH. Just waiting for the 50 degree days...Take care, Brice

[@Richiemouse]

Great explanation

[@jeremyevans3597]

Thanks for all the great info, I really appreciate all the knowledge sharing on your channel. I've just finished my 2nd season down here in NZ. The video has been saved and will be revisited next spring. All the best with your season, and keep the videos coming. Cheers

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertlewis3336]

Appreciate this

[@oneshoo]

Great video Peter! How about using a double screen board instead of a QE when putting the weaker hive on top of the strong one??

[@fredshoney6458]

I assume this method also works for single brood box management. Do you feed syrup and/or pollen, either open feeding or in the hive?

[@citrumpet1]

Thanks for the information. I was wondering what you do with any frames that have wonky comb? For instance, in a dead out hive... Do you just scrape it out and melt it for wax if it's not correctable or put it back in as is?

[@jonohooper4555]

Have you ever thought to winter them in stacks so they share heat throughout the winter. Been pretty successful in New Zealand where I live.

[@simblitz1]

Do you just use queen excluders to separate the colonies? And how many colonies do you stack together?

[@jonohooper4555]

@@simblitz1 search up, bob binnie double screen bottom boards. Just as effective is a hive mat with an entrance notched out of the wood, so the top board becomes the base of the hive that gets stacked on top.

[@williambates6811]

What are the bees bringing in for pollen this time of year in Central Maine? I was watching the bees yesterday and notice they were bringing in a orange yellowish pollen. I did check the hives and they have plenty of sugar and pollen sub to survive the storm we have coming.

[@claytonhuestis8081]

Two other methods not mentioned. Equalize using brood from strong to weak. Probably requeen weaker hives later. Lastly, swap hive positions of strong and weak hives. Good to have many options.

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

There are many more options we are just getting started here! I like changing back down to a single brood chamber!

[@jrys23]

Can you create a split in the same backyard apiary?

[@pauld1456]

When you put a weak hive on top of a strong hive (with newspaper and queen excluder) do you have a top entrance on the weak hive?

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

YES! I should have said that!!

[@eddierhodes9173]

Is there any trick, so you don't loose the flying bees when you move the weak colony? Thank you

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

If you can move to a yard over a mile away! But failing that in the same yard you can put lots of sticks and branches in front of the new location but many of the older bees WILL fly back so it must bea fairly full box of bees.

[@seleneRichens]

Do you provide a top entrance for weak ( joined hive) or can they use the bottom entrance?

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Yes they should have a top entrance....I should have said that!

[@christopherrountos4473]

I was going to ask this question as well. Thank you

[@stuffnsuch631]

Why not steal a few frames of bees and brood and give it to the weak hive to give them a kick in the butt?

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

That is fine as long as they have enough bees to keep that brood warm (after many fly back home) so can be tricky early in the season.

[@bryonbailey8615]

Can the larger colony kill the queen in the smaller one when you boost

[@BeekeepingwithTheBeeWhisperer]

Not usually but yes, especially if disturbed to much too soon.