What does a beekeeper do in winter?
I’ve mentioned many times that when you become a beekeeper your awareness of the seasons and the changes in weather becomes a keen part of daily life. How you as the beekeeper and how the bees behave, is dictated by the seasons and the weather conditions.
Late spring and into summer is frenetic, filled with long, and hopefully warm, days. The bees are flying from early light and into the evening; returning to their homes as the sun sets and as we pour ourselves a long drink to enjoy the last of the day.
As late summer turns to autumn our attention turns to ensuring the bees are all set to survive the darker and colder part of the year, at the same time as prepping their supplies and ensuring their home will keep them warm, I also turn my attention to winterising our own home (We live in a farmhouse built in 1909, it’s had extensions over the years but still has the chill of an old house that is open to the elements.) Wood and oil is ordered, duvets changed to their thicker counterparts and blankets removed from their summer storage. Rugs put down on the colder brick and tiled floors, and thermals dug out along with jumpers and woolly socks.
This autumn (2022) has been milder than many that have passed before. This has seen the bees flying well into late November whereas October was when we would usually say our farewell-for-nows until the spring. Finally as we are only a couple of weeks from Christmas, the temperature has dropped below 6 degrees and the bees are safely mustered within their hive.
Once the thermometer hits 7 degrees the bees will remain inside as it’s too cold for them to fly. They will huddle together with the queen in the centre, surrounded by her older daughters and in turn they are surrounded by their younger sisters. Using their wing muscles they generate warmth. Ideally we want it to be a long cold winter as this will see the queen becoming dormant and without eggs and brood to protect, the nest temperature can be maintained at around 20 degrees rather than 35 degrees. Why is this better? Because if they can lower the temperature they won’t use as much energy, which means they won’t need as much food, which in turn means they are more likely to survive through to spring when they can make and store more supplies.
With the bees comfortable and snuggly in their hive our attention turns to next year. For me, I use the winter as a time to work on the business’ paperwork and admin, to catch up on things I’d missed in the summer and to think about the next year and what I’d like to achieve then. There’s clearing and cleaning of old equipment that’s lying around the apiary, followed by prepping of spares for the following year. I will often change out hive elements in the spring so prep those items first and then stock up on other bits and pieces I may need and which may help in the year ahead.
On brighter days I will wander around the apiaries, checking hives for damage, making sure they’re secure and safe, and hefting (lifting a corner to feel the weight), adding supplemental food if I’m concerned that they may have eaten through their stores.
Occasionally you’ll see me with an ear against the hive wall, listening for a buzz, or a hand run along the outside to attempt to sense a temperature change and a sign that the bees are all ok within. Its at this time of year that the neurotic dreams can start; worrying about the bees and whether I’ve done enough to ensure their survival. On the days where the wind whistles around the house I can be found running around the apiary checking straps are securely holding the hives in place, coat baffling the worst of the chill.
Other jobs for this winter are getting the apiary garden all set for next year. We have grand plans for veg growing and hives are being moved around. I’m bringing my Essex hives up to Norfolk in the new year as the cost of fuel has made it too expensive to keep them there so some space needs to be cleared for them. As the new year arrives we’ll be starting off the veg seeds and planning more pollinator friendly planting around the pond. We’ve also been working on a new storage area for hive equipment which needs painting and organising! There’s never a dull day, although the occasional rainy day calls for some rest where the dogs and I play inside with the log burner providing our cosy warmth, a wholesome homemade soup for dinner when the husband returns home and whatever drama we’re watching next on tv.
