As winter approaches, it's essential to consider your hive's configuration for the cold months ahead. Here are two possible setups for the One Queen Keeper:
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Brood Box, Queen Excluder, Empty Medium Spacer Box:
- Remove all supers above the medium spacer box, including the deep exchange box.
- In this configuration, your bees may need supplemental feeding unless there are ample honey stores already in the 8-frame brood chamber.
- The empty medium spacer box offers a convenient spot to place two mason quart jars, filled with 2:1 sugar syrup. Be cautious not to overfeed, as this can trigger swarming. Always check honey stores first.
- You can also use the empty medium nuc box for later winter emergency feeding, such as fondant or dry sugar.
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Brood Box, Deep Exchange Box:
- Remove all medium supers, the medium spacer box, and the queen excluder. Then, drop the deep exchange box down onto the brood chamber.
- In this configuration, your bees will sustain themselves through winter by consuming the 25-30 pounds of honey stored in the exchange box.
- If you recently started a colony in The Keeper's Hive and have no honey in the exchange box, it's advisable to opt for option #1.
- Option #1 is also suitable for smaller colonies (four frames of bees or fewer).
- To prepare for late-winter emergency feeding, you can add a 1.5-inch shim above the deep nuc box for fondant or granulated sugar.
It's generally recommended to transition your bees into the chosen winter configuration before conducting the mid-September mite treatment with either Apiguard or Apivar. This minimizes disruption to the brood nest when miticides are in use.
As a personal preference, option #2 is my favorite for overwintering. It allows your bees to rely on their stored honey in the exchange box, offering a simple and effective winter strategy.
-George
