It is often difficult for a beekeeper to know whether he is wintering
his bees as well as he should, for he may not have been able to learn
from reading or visiting other apiaries how well colonies may be
brought through the winter. The writers therefore have attempted to
give here a few measures which the beekeeper may apply to his apiary,
that he may be able to decide whether his methods of wintering should
be improved.
1. When bees are adequately packed and protected from the wind, they
are able to push out the dead bees as they die in winter. There should
never be an accumulation of dead bees on the bottom board.
2. A colony of full strength will have 12 Langstroth frames filled with
brood by the time that the bees should be unpacked. The bees should not
be taken from their cases until it is necessary to handle them, and if
two hive bodies have been given each colony, unpacking may be deferred
until time for the control of swarming or until the new honey is coming
in freely. Sometimes it even happens that colonies need a third hive as
a swarm prevention measure before it is time to remove the packing, in
which case it can be given and the packing replaced, at least around
the sides of the third hive body. Space for this is indicated in the
dimensions given on page 9.
3. A colony is not of proper strength for winter unless it has between
three and four frames of brood two months before the time for putting
on packing. Usually this will be six weeks before brood-rearing ceases.
If there is less brood at that time it indicates either that the queen
is not good or that the colony has been weakened from some other
cause. If taken in time this condition may be remedied by adding brood
or honey or by uniting. It is extravagant to attempt to winter weak
colonies.
4. If a thermometer is inserted into the hive through the auger hole
entrance at the time of the coldest weather in winter it should
show a temperature above the freezing point. At no time should the
temperature of any part of the hive go below freezing, and the point
just within the entrance is the most convenient one at which to take
the temperature readings. The lowest temperature obviously will be at
this point.