Last year it hit -58 degrees below here in Alberta, Canada and we had zero winter losses. We treat with OA Vapour over insulated screened bottom boards until we reach almost zero dead mites on our SBs, feed like crazy in the fall and wrap our hives with 2” of styrofoam. We use round bales as a wind break. We believe that our zero winter losses each year is due the things mentioned above plus young homegrown queens and lots of winter bees produced in September and October. Best of luck in 2025.
Thank you for sharing!! 🙏 Might I ask what type of bottom boards exactly? If they might be plastic (for longevity sake).?! I'm hoping to find something like this that is commercially available.?? Thanks 👍
Try using reptile heat mats heat rises so put on the bottom of a hive which will not heat them up too much but keep the inside of a hive responsible for them to cluster but not a tight cluster.
I have seen an electric wrap for hives in the past with a thermostat and adjustable control that was WiFi with an app for monitoring, but I have no idea where I saw it, was last year. I also have seen people put reptile heat mats on the bottom board screen hooked up to a rainbird WiFi digital thermostat in test hives for the winter, no clue how it worked out. I would imagine it would be helpful in the temps Dave is talking about, but I wouldn't put all of my eggs in that basket. I would imagine if you heated them for the winter and the temps were correct, your bee's would consume their resources faster 🤔???, and if they had food to make it into spring time and not starve, they would be exploding very early and ready to split earlier than usual. I don't know, just a thought.. Don't listen to me, what do I know, I'm not Dave. 🤪🧐
55 gallon trash bags can cover a hive, block wind. Mosquito netting on a light wire frame, snow block,,,,,🤔 bubble wrap insulation leave slight air space in front closet off top no ice😊 looks like tall silver hive, for those who needed a picture
Are you recommending to fully insulate? The reason I ask, I have found like yourself in the past that too much insulation is even worse. What about insulation on just two sides to keep the ventilation and wind off the N to W sides of the hive?
Might be time to drop disposable hand warmers and a mitten under the inner cover boards... ♨ 👏All of my bee's flew south for the winter, so I am all set, they will be fine. 🐝🐝🐝
Northern Minnesota beekeeper here. Every winter gets -20 to -30 here & lots of snow. This is how I winterize in late October every yr: -Leave 2 full boxes of honey above the cluster. Sometimes little more. -upper exit above topmost honey box. (either cut into a shim or built into bottom of the quilt box) This exit has an awning to shed snow (can be tented cardboard, metal or plastic, stapled to wood) -Vented Quilt box above honey boxes, filled with cedar chips. Vents are screened over & have metal awnings to shed snow. -2" foam board above quilt box. Then outer cover. Then bricks. - 1/2" hardware cloth stapled over lower entrance to keep mice out. -Piece of cardboard covers all but 2" of lower entrance, to block wind. -Black cardboard cover slipped over entire hive ( I used to use tarpaper til it ran out), as wind block. I make sure this doesn't block the lower or upper entrances by cutting/tenting the cardboard. This also creates a natural awning over bottom entrance, to help shed snow. The metal awnings on quilt box , in cold weather , will be frosted on their underside- next to the vent holes, where condensation escapes. It's an easy way to check to see if colony is still alive. Good luck.
I like to take the plastic cardboard sheets like old political signs and place under the bocks on top with the sign hanging out over the front edge. This creates an awning of sorts so the snow never blocks the entrances. Only has to hang out maybe 6 inches or so. We have already had this season more than ave number of days below freezing for the whole Winter.
Wellington Wraps, I think they may be Canadian? This is what we use for wraps up here. They are basically a box that we open up and drop over our hives. They are black and also absorb some sunlight to warm.
Thanks for the heads up, David. I'm glad you're on the same page I am in regard to preparedness. I hope the snow is less than what they're calling for. My bees are about an hour away, so that makes it difficult to get down there and brush off the snow after a day at work. I'm putting on some food tomorrow though, so that will hopefully help things a bit.
I hope all your "Southern" colonies survive this cold snap. Here in Northern Michigan cold weather is a way of life, it's not for a weekend, it's months at a time. I'll add if you have strong colonies, they'll do just fine. The heat from the cluster will melt any ice buildup on the landing board quicker than you'll think possible.
You should check your bees every day if you can during the winter. Or anytime. But moreso in the winter. It helps them be encouraged to know you are there. You can do something faster if you notice a decline.
Just curious as a possible future be keeper, and hives be over wintered in a green house with good ventilation and closed off and heated slightly overnight on the coldest nights ?
PUT A TENT OR BIG DOG HOUSE, HOMEMADE SMALL SHED AROUND / OVER YOUR BEE HIVE & PUT HUMMING BIRD FEEDERS INSIDE THESE BEE SHELTERS SO THEY WON'T WANT TO GO LOOK FOOD FOOD N FREEZING WEATHER. SORRY ALL CAPS CAN'T C SMALL LETTERS ON KEYBOARD
David, you would make a great weather man. YES the weather has changed today from upper 30's to mid 20's with 3+ inches of snow and NW winds. Expecting low teens and more snow for the whole month of January. My bees have WBK BOARDS and have 2 inches of wrap insulation.
How much airflow do they need? Wouldn't wrapped hives impede airflow as well? Also, do you sell mated queens??? I would LOVE to purchase a mated queen from yall but I live in South Carolina...
I don’t have my bees yet and this weather change has me concerned. It was in the mid 50s F to 60s F a couple days ago and it’s 28 F, feels like 20 F. Seems like next week in Wednesday it will be -4 F. (Northeast KY)
SE Iowa here; put my first wbk on yesterday & wrapped in "Reflectix" silver bubble wrap insulation. 🙏 for all humans & animals in this weather! I only have 1 colony. Barn cat, Luna, tasted wbk & approves! Lol. 🐾
I feed my bees in the fall until they won't take anymore syrup. Then I wrap my hives and provide mountain camp sugar. All my colonies are treated with formic pro for mites to include fall & winter blasts of OAV. In early February I provide any surviving colony with a pollen patty & a little syrup in March if necessary. Beyond that, there's nothing else that can be done, and it's up to the bees.
David I live in North Carolina I'm wrapping my bees in blankets and plastic to help keep them warm for this huge cold snap. They have screen bottom boards to keep air flow and moisture controlled
I was worried about the next couple weeks for my bees. I wasn’t sure if I was just overthinking😅. I’m going to wrap my hives with insulation. I live in northern Kentucky. There is gonna be a low of 1 degree Fahrenheit on Tuesday and I’m not taking any chances
Ha, I lost my bees already. 2024 was a rough year. My 4 hives did not make it. I got custody of my grandson and just couldn't put the time into them this year. I'm thinking of taking a year off.
1st year bee keeper...started with 2 hives and did not take thier honey this year due to them struggling to draw out new plastic foundations..when inspecting empty hives after Christmas here in alabama where it's warm still...I saw what appeared to be dust simular to saw dust on the bottom board with less than 20 dead bees...did I possibly have a late swarm?? I saw at least one uncapped cups on the foundations near the middle in each hive
The first week of January always has the coldest air and wind of the year, people need to prepare before it gets here. Last week, I was putting on sugar brick on colonies that need help or seem light on stores. I'm in Virginia not far from Kentucky and get similar weather. I put on homemade wraps (a moving blanket wrapped with black plastic) to keep wind from freezing the bees like David mentioned, Easy On Hive Covers is another product I like to use but expensive if you have a lot of hives.. One year, this weather came early and many people had frozen water because people don't know what winter is like in the north.. This video is a little late for the winter party, cracking lids in freezing wind is never a good idea IMO.
Cold weather effects the bees lol when bees cluster it is a sign of stress come to Canada bees die from the cold lol you better have a nice big colony or cold will kill your bees they are not from cold climates
Are you recommending to fully insulate? The reason I ask, I have found like yourself in the past that too much insulation is even worse. What about insulation on just two sides to keep the ventilation and wind off the N to W sides of the hive?
Last year it hit -58 degrees below here in Alberta, Canada and we had zero winter losses. We treat with OA Vapour over insulated screened bottom boards until we reach almost zero dead mites on our SBs, feed like crazy in the fall and wrap our hives with 2” of styrofoam. We use round bales as a wind break. We believe that our zero winter losses each year is due the things mentioned above plus young homegrown queens and lots of winter bees produced in September and October. Best of luck in 2025.
Thank you for sharing!! 🙏
Might I ask what type of bottom boards exactly? If they might be plastic (for longevity sake).?! I'm hoping to find something like this that is commercially available.?? Thanks 👍
@@johncarson6220 what dosage do you use on the OA treatment ? I started using it last season and I’m new at that
Thank you, David for informative video. Some say winters will be colder in the future.
Great video David. Like the saying goes, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Dave, im in north east Kentucky. Hopefully my candy boards, windblocks and stuff ive done helps my bees get thru it. Great info.
Try using reptile heat mats heat rises so put on the bottom of a hive which will not heat them up too much but keep the inside of a hive responsible for them to cluster but not a tight cluster.
I’m located in Kentucky and hope my bees make it through. I’ll be checking my hives daily once this ice / snow moves in.
Happy New Year 🥳 David and your family
I've been looking at the weather as well. (January 10ish) Possibly another 1977 for us down in Alabama! 🥶
I'm amazed we don't have electric blankets for bees!😂
They do but I wouldn't recommend artificial heat on bees
Justt insulate and not ventilate and it will be ok.
That would actually do more harm than benefits. Please learn from guys that have proper winter.
I have seen an electric wrap for hives in the past with a thermostat and adjustable control that was WiFi with an app for monitoring, but I have no idea where I saw it, was last year. I also have seen people put reptile heat mats on the bottom board screen hooked up to a rainbird WiFi digital thermostat in test hives for the winter, no clue how it worked out. I would imagine it would be helpful in the temps Dave is talking about, but I wouldn't put all of my eggs in that basket. I would imagine if you heated them for the winter and the temps were correct, your bee's would consume their resources faster 🤔???, and if they had food to make it into spring time and not starve, they would be exploding very early and ready to split earlier than usual. I don't know, just a thought.. Don't listen to me, what do I know, I'm not Dave. 🤪🧐
Believe it or not, I’ve seen heaters for bees.
Happy New Year 🎉. Thanks for the video David and Sheri 😊
Happy New Year, David
I like the new set up!
I'm leaving from Northern IL to Louisville, KY, tomorrow morning for NAHBE. Wish me luck!
55 gallon trash bags can cover a hive, block wind. Mosquito netting on a light wire frame, snow block,,,,,🤔 bubble wrap insulation leave slight air space in front closet off top no ice😊 looks like tall silver hive, for those who needed a picture
Thankyou david four information ❤❤❤❤
I'm glad you did this video! It helped this newbee out.
Happy new year, David. I also worry about bees!
Happy new year David and crew. Thanks for the heads up
Are you recommending to fully insulate? The reason I ask, I have found like yourself in the past that too much insulation is even worse. What about insulation on just two sides to keep the ventilation and wind off the N to W sides of the hive?
I have WBKs on and have a wind screen so I should be ready here in VA. Thanks for all your videos! Stay warm and Happy New Year!
Make sure you have a Mitsubishi ductless heat pump system for your home!
SW Kentucky weather is normally cold in Jan, Feb looks like same it was 40 yrs ago
Might be time to drop disposable hand warmers and a mitten under the inner cover boards... ♨ 👏All of my bee's flew south for the winter, so I am all set, they will be fine. 🐝🐝🐝
Northern Minnesota beekeeper here. Every winter gets -20 to -30 here & lots of snow. This is how I winterize in late October every yr:
-Leave 2 full boxes of honey above the cluster. Sometimes little more.
-upper exit above topmost honey box. (either cut into a shim or built into bottom of the quilt box) This exit has an awning to shed snow (can be tented cardboard, metal or plastic, stapled to wood)
-Vented Quilt box above honey boxes, filled with cedar chips. Vents are screened over & have metal awnings to shed snow.
-2" foam board above quilt box. Then outer cover. Then bricks.
- 1/2" hardware cloth stapled over lower entrance to keep mice out.
-Piece of cardboard covers all but 2" of lower entrance, to block wind.
-Black cardboard cover slipped over entire hive ( I used to use tarpaper til it ran out), as wind block. I make sure this doesn't block the lower or upper entrances by cutting/tenting the cardboard. This also creates a natural awning over bottom entrance, to help shed snow.
The metal awnings on quilt box , in cold weather , will be frosted on their underside- next to the vent holes, where condensation escapes. It's an easy way to check to see if colony is still alive.
Good luck.
Thanks for the info from Wisconsin!
I like to take the plastic cardboard sheets like old political signs and place under the bocks on top with the sign hanging out over the front edge. This creates an awning of sorts so the snow never blocks the entrances. Only has to hang out maybe 6 inches or so. We have already had this season more than ave number of days below freezing for the whole Winter.
Wellington Wraps, I think they may be Canadian?
This is what we use for wraps up here. They are basically a box that we open up and drop over our hives. They are black and also absorb some sunlight to warm.
Awning sounds like a good idea. This winter is too cold for my liking.
Thanks for the heads up, David. I'm glad you're on the same page I am in regard to preparedness. I hope the snow is less than what they're calling for. My bees are about an hour away, so that makes it difficult to get down there and brush off the snow after a day at work. I'm putting on some food tomorrow though, so that will hopefully help things a bit.
I hope all your "Southern" colonies survive this cold snap. Here in Northern Michigan cold weather is a way of life, it's not for a weekend, it's months at a time. I'll add if you have strong colonies, they'll do just fine. The heat from the cluster will melt any ice buildup on the landing board quicker than you'll think possible.
You should check your bees every day if you can during the winter. Or anytime. But moreso in the winter. It helps them be encouraged to know you are there. You can do something faster if you notice a decline.
Just curious as a possible future be keeper, and hives be over wintered in a green house with good ventilation and closed off and heated slightly overnight on the coldest nights ?
Green house may become too hot on a sunny day.
Does the feed source have to be within the hive ?????
It is winter time, this happens every year. Only person that needs to panic for those that didn't prepare this fall?
Thank you for the very good tips..human and bee care.
PUT A TENT OR BIG DOG HOUSE, HOMEMADE SMALL SHED AROUND / OVER YOUR BEE HIVE & PUT HUMMING BIRD FEEDERS INSIDE THESE BEE SHELTERS SO THEY WON'T WANT TO GO LOOK FOOD FOOD N FREEZING WEATHER. SORRY ALL CAPS CAN'T C SMALL LETTERS ON KEYBOARD
I moved all my bees inside a building and keeping them right around 40 degrees
WBK went on yesterday in prep for this winter blast.
do you think spraying hives with road salts would keep excessive ice from forming? lol
Great video!!!
David, you would make a great weather man. YES the weather has changed today from upper 30's to mid 20's with 3+ inches of snow and NW winds. Expecting low teens and more snow for the whole month of January. My bees have WBK BOARDS and have 2 inches of wrap insulation.
My girls are behind our house and surrounded by woods. Would that be a good wind break?
How much airflow do they need? Wouldn't wrapped hives impede airflow as well? Also, do you sell mated queens??? I would LOVE to purchase a mated queen from yall but I live in South Carolina...
I don’t have my bees yet and this weather change has me concerned. It was in the mid 50s F to 60s F a couple days ago and it’s 28 F, feels like 20 F. Seems like next week in Wednesday it will be -4 F. (Northeast KY)
SE Iowa here; put my first wbk on yesterday & wrapped in "Reflectix" silver bubble wrap insulation. 🙏 for all humans & animals in this weather! I only have 1 colony.
Barn cat, Luna, tasted wbk & approves! Lol. 🐾
Oh my gosh I love the taste of the winter-bee-kind. I love to eat it!!
Better safe than sorry! Thanks Dave
Food, insulation and moisture board, works in New Hampshire every winter!
I feed my bees in the fall until they won't take anymore syrup. Then I wrap my hives and provide mountain camp sugar. All my colonies are treated with formic pro for mites to include fall & winter blasts of OAV. In early February I provide any surviving colony with a pollen patty & a little syrup in March if necessary. Beyond that, there's nothing else that can be done, and it's up to the bees.
What is mountain camp sugar?
Thank you for this messaging. What are your weather map sources?
Hi Carey, I review the National Weather Service info but I really rely on Ryan Hall Ya'll.
@@beek Ryan Hall is my go-to for weather as well.
@@beek Thank you for sharing!! I had never heard of Ryan Hall and now I can’t get enough! 🙌🏼
David I live in North Carolina I'm wrapping my bees in blankets and plastic to help keep them warm for this huge cold snap. They have screen bottom boards to keep air flow and moisture controlled
Happy New Year! Better weather..?
imagine that, cold in the winter.
I was worried about the next couple weeks for my bees. I wasn’t sure if I was just overthinking😅. I’m going to wrap my hives with insulation. I live in northern Kentucky. There is gonna be a low of 1 degree Fahrenheit on Tuesday and I’m not taking any chances
NE KY, Fleming county. It got cold fast, and next Wednesday says -4F! I don’t have bees yet but on April/May I will.
Ha, I lost my bees already. 2024 was a rough year. My 4 hives did not make it. I got custody of my grandson and just couldn't put the time into them this year. I'm thinking of taking a year off.
Sometimes a little time off is a good thing. Then when you're ready you can jump right back in with new enthusiasm.
2024 was bad year for my bees too.
1st year bee keeper...started with 2 hives and did not take thier honey this year due to them struggling to draw out new plastic foundations..when inspecting empty hives after Christmas here in alabama where it's warm still...I saw what appeared to be dust simular to saw dust on the bottom board with less than 20 dead bees...did I possibly have a late swarm?? I saw at least one uncapped cups on the foundations near the middle in each hive
You'll learn with the experience. I suggest to fed bees if you give them new foundations.
The first week of January always has the coldest air and wind of the year, people need to prepare before it gets here. Last week, I was putting on sugar brick on colonies that need help or seem light on stores. I'm in Virginia not far from Kentucky and get similar weather. I put on homemade wraps (a moving blanket wrapped with black plastic) to keep wind from freezing the bees like David mentioned, Easy On Hive Covers is another product I like to use but expensive if you have a lot of hives.. One year, this weather came early and many people had frozen water because people don't know what winter is like in the north.. This video is a little late for the winter party, cracking lids in freezing wind is never a good idea IMO.
Watched Ryan Hall jus before this. Checked my bees this weekend with four colonies lost, hoping this doesn’t t do in a bunch more.
Yup Ryan Hall is my main weather man!
Located in northeast South Dakota
cold weather doesn't kill northern bees.
Cold weather effects the bees lol when bees cluster it is a sign of stress come to Canada bees die from the cold lol you better have a nice big colony or cold will kill your bees they are not from cold climates
ya. Just condensation from the clustering. Many ways to do that.
lol you guys could never make it up in Canada 😂😂😂😂
My bees froze weeks ago 😢
Sorry to hear that.
Are you recommending to fully insulate? The reason I ask, I have found like yourself in the past that too much insulation is even worse. What about insulation on just two sides to keep the ventilation and wind off the N to W sides of the hive?