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Winter is here...
but spring is just around the corner.
It's time to bee prepared for the new season!
New to beekeeping?
Here's our winter guide for newbees.
Is your hive winter ready?
Unless youโre lucky enough to live in a warm area with year-round forage, most beekeepers pack down their hives in winter to ensure their colonies will be kept warm and have enough honey stores to last the season. If youโre just getting started, winter is a great time to look ahead and start planning!
Your overwintering set-up will be specific to the needs of your colony in your climate โย itโs best to consult with local beekeepers to learn the best over-wintering practices for your region. Some of the steps you may need to take are:
Bee prepared to grow your apiary in spring
Now is a good time to start planning for next season. Having an extra hive will allow you to split your colony and be prepared for swarming.
The Flow Hive 2+ is our premium hive, made from western red cedar and packed with innovative hive features to help you take great care of your bees.
$899 - $1,059
Winter packdown made easier
The Flow Super Lifter
The most sought-after addition to any apiary this season, the Flow Super Lifter makes your winter hive maintenance a breeze.
A tool thatโs been carefully designed to let you open a beehive with minimal effort.
Itโs a simple solution that is
๐ so much easier,
๐ so much faster, and
๐ allows you to be more gentle on your bees.
For those with extra-cold winters
If youโre looking for over-wintering advice, check out experienced apiarist and TheBeekeeper.org collaborator, Fred Dunn, who shares with his YouTube audience how to modify your hive for winter conditions. From insulation options, creating a winter feeder, and making a medium super, get set up for success with Fredโs top over-wintering tips.
Flow Frame Storage
If you remove your Flow Super for winter, you should harvest any remaining honey from the Flow Frames, then leave the super on for a few days to allow the bees to clean up any remaining residue.
Allow the Flow Frames to dry thoroughly, then store them in a dry place away from direct light*. Wrap them in plastic or store them in a tub to prevent pests.
*The Flow Frame plastic is UV sensitive.
Top Tip: If there is honey in your Flow Frames that you want to use next spring, you can store the Flow Frames in a freezer over winter.
Beekeeping reading
Winter is a great time to brush up on your beekeeping knowledge. Our book combines the story of Flow with a guide to beekeeping. It will be published in February and is available to pre-order now.
Look after your queen
Keep the queen in the cluster
The bees will form a cluster during winter, and will gradually move up the hive consuming the honey stores. If you leave the super on over winter, you must remove the queen excluder so your queen does not get stranded from the rest of the colony.
๐ฌ Learn how to remove the queen excluder
Top Tip: The queen will not be laying eggs during a cold winter, but depending on your climate, she may start to lay in late winter or early spring. You'll want to get her back in the brood box before she starts to lay.
Insulate & ventilate
If you need, you can add insulation to the top cover using wood shavings or polystyrene.
The outside of your hive should be sealed and waterproof.
Depending on the severity of your climate, you can consider wrapping the hives for extra insulation.ย Consult with local beekeepersย to get suggestions and ideas for your area.
Top Tip: The hive should have ventilation, but not a draught.ย Entrance reducersย can help to prevent draughts and your hive becoming a rodent hotel.
A good time to study!
Expand your knowledge about bees
While thereโs not much to be done in the apiary, itโs a great time to expand your knowledge about bees.
With contributions from specialists around the world, thereโs no other source of beekeeping knowledge quite like this.
Add an entrance reducer
Our Flow Entrance Reducer is handy for protecting against predators and robbing, reducing drafts in cold climates and can be used to seal the hive entrance for short periods when relocating your hive.
Do not disturb
Itโs best to avoid any hive or brood inspections when the weather is cold. The bees will maintain a brood temperature of 34-36ยฐC (94 to 97ยฐF). It is dangerous to expose them to low temperatures by opening up the hive, so keep it closed.
Top Tip: Itโs possible to figure out what part of the hive the bees are in by listening closely. The nearer they are to the top, the less stores they have left โ so this can be a way of knowing whether, and when you need to feed them.
Your winter questions answered
We're here to support your beekeeping journey!
You can connect with our team via phone, email,โจlive chat or through our social platforms. Cedar even answers your questions live streamed from the apiary every Wednesday!
Inspire others to get involved
Do you know someone whoโs keen on taking up beekeeping in the new year? Have you convinced a friend to follow you into the beekeeping world?
Ourย Refer-A-Friend programย allows your friend to receive $50 off their first hive, and you receive a sweet $50 reward.
If you donโt have a beekeeping buddy, consider linking up with someone local on theย Flow Community Forum.