Overwintering Class by Certified Master Beekeeper John Benham

NOTE: When overwintering in the north, you have to use insulation to keep your bees alive in the winter.
In this class, John Benham, a Certified Master Beekeeper, guides you through the essential steps and strategies for successfully overwintering your beehive. You learn the critical importance of preparing your hive for winter and gain insights into the seasonal dynamics of beekeeping, including the changing climate, shorter and colder days, and the diminishing availability of floral resources.
John emphasizes the key factors for overwintering success, such as maintaining healthy bee colonies, controlling mite infestations, and providing a sufficient food supply. You discover how to adjust feeding amounts and what to feed your bees, monitor hive health, and ensure your bees have the nutrition they need to thrive.
Whether you are an expert or a new beekeeper, you learn something in this class. John Benham covers the essentials you need to know for overwintering well and keeping your bees healthy during the cold months of the year.
(8:00)
Queen Rearing Starter Kit | QC090: www.mannlakelt...
Complete Queen Rearing Kit | QC100: www.mannlakelt...
(08:34)
Mite Treatments: www.mannlakelt...
(8:30)
Varroa EasyCheck | DC671: www.mannlakelt...
(09:56)
Traditional Complete Hive Kit | Z606: www.mannlakelt...
(11:12)
Insulation | WT160: www.mannlakelt...
(11:34)
10 Frame Entrance Reducer (WW355) / Spacer Shim (Z292)/
10 Frame Mouse Guard (HD591) | www.mannlakelt...
(12:05)
10 Frame Quilt Box: WW390 | www.mannlakelt...
(23:33)
Pro-Winter Feed: FD366/FD368 | www.mannlakelt...
(35:40)
9 5/8" Follower Board | WW155: www.mannlakelt...
Shop Mann Lake: www.mannlakelt...
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more beekeeping wisdom and bee-friendly content. Happy beekeeping!
Disclaimer: The viewpoints and perspectives presented in this program solely represent the speaker and may not necessarily correspond with the perspectives or stances of Mann Lake LTD.

[@mgmbamaguy]

This was an awesome presentation!

[@mannlake]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Backyard_gardening_beekeeping]

Watched the video twice. Great lecture, John! Thanks!

[@adkfoothills1973]

Great presentation. John did a wonderful job, and this is the type of information we need. "Thank You" 😊

[@altaylor293]

Excellent presentation.

[@brianschrombeck7313]

Excellent video! Thankyou.

[@mannlake]

Glad you liked it!

[@heavymechanic2]

I agree with the entrance size, the bees were mean and after reducing the entrance their behavior changed in just a few days. The robbing bees move around the entire yard harassing all the hives.

[@sherryortiz227]

You are mistaken about FB not giving good information. Ive been in over 30 FB beekeeping groups for several years. Many highly educated exxperienced beekeepers are in the groups. Just we learn from many in many areas including our own instead of listening to one person's story on youtube or at conferences. There are many ways of doing things including wintering of hives. Most of them work too. I follow over 40 KZbin beekeepers as well as they also offer great ideas. I do raise my own queens, dont use miticides or smoke on my bees. And it works great for me as well as many others. Dont put down facebook. Theres thousands of us helping other beekeepers on a daily basis. Many ways to learn and many ways to do things.

[@georgeanderson1443]

Where is your entrance reduces on your around and I understand what you said and why did they make the bottom board size they do?

[@PutEmInTheBox]

Seriously who requeens 3-4 time a year?

[@Steele_Wings]

I can believe that now. A few of my colonies kept doing it on their own this year. I don't know of any beekeepers within 3 miles for drones for my virgin queens. Poorly mated queens got replaced within 1 month in spring.

[@TheHobbyShooter]

Yeah. I'm calling BS on that.

[@garycasey991]

I believe if we lower where we store our hives below ground level the ground temperature is warmer year around

[@chrislindler4506]

For the sugar slush mix, does the citric acid serve the same purpose as a couple drops of bleach? Should i still add the bleach to prolong the useful life of the feed? I'm feeding in jars.

[@mannlake]

The citric acid serves as a preservative to inhibit the growth of mold and fermentation in the sugar syrup.

[@tomahawkmissile241]

only issue with conculsion is was the queen a 400 egg or 800 egg layer just like you said failed research right in the talk. Might need to get in contact with the northern breeders for those 1500 eggs a day if looking for 10 supers. The number one source is testing the hive for mites than go from there. With the brood pattern it is hard to say it is good with no bees on the combs to cover it could be trying to rebound from noosema cernae with the lack of forgers and nurse bees switching over duties earlier and no nectar. Could also have a hive beetle concern by the top bars having beetle jails. There is a good researcher at Jamie Ellis lab that is in high school that can give the best outcome here.

[@spadeoutdoors2688]

So do you leave your entrance reducer on and put the mouse guard over that. First year and wondering if he means just the spring summer and fall or the whole year with mouse guard over it

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Typically mouse guards are used up North here just in the winter. Clustered bees are more vulnerable.

[@lenturtle7954]

If your entrance reducer 3/8 it will keep mice out

[@markober6294]

Is there a way to get a copy of his slides? I would like to take a closer look at the candy board recipes.

[@mannlake]

Yes, reach out to [e-mail] for the power point presentation and we will email it to you.

[@Steele_Wings]

I buy mann lake winter feed in 5 gallon bucket. I pack into plastic ware container then put the lid on. Then cut opening in the top and turn upside down on inner covers hole. The Steele Creek camp method. Charlotte NC.

[@bradley_reis]

Where was this speaker/slideshow located?

[@mannlake]

This class was held at our KY location

[@intheshell35ify]

Poking holes in the wax paper or newspaper is a step soooo many people miss.

[@DinorwicSongwriter]

Are you the high density apple orchard guy?

[@danholtbk7008]

Wow!

[@jovanvujovic3932]

😀👍

[@breckdemers]

Just the first comment stating you have to insulate makes one wonder what else is false. Bees can easily survive without insulating as long as they are healthy and well fed. We have beekeepers in Canada that don't insulate and do so with very little issues.

[@lenturtle7954]

Maybe in warmer areas of Canada In the north not insulating is a death sentence .

[@breckdemers]

@@lenturtle7954 sure. Different areas can do different things. Generalizing all the north as the same and stating you "have to" insulate is wrong.

[@petergregory]

What about supplemental heat? I have put RV tank heating pads under my hives with w a Frost King thermostat (on at 35, off at 50). I live in central WA where the winter temps get as low as -10F.

[@Woodys_Bees]

He says in the video that he's never insulated

[@DinorwicSongwriter]

You may not absolutely have to insulate, it is not a law. But if you live where it gets -40 and colder, would you not want to try to help the bees get a better chance of surviving? I see nothing wrong with giving the bees help to survive the cold with less stress. And, would you not need as much food if the hive is warmer?

[@evemitchellanderson]

Dr Phil is that you? 😂

[@philhofland5501]

Who?

[@alvinofrietze7692]

Informative with nu.bers i loved it

[@mannlake]

Thank you! We are so glad you found the class helpful!