Getting the bee hives ready for winter (Nov 2010)

[honeeproducer34]

Is there an advantage to such skinny hives? They look like maybe 6 framers... I have some old 8 frame boxes I use as supers, but yours look considerably thinner...

[generalbomax]

Curious to know if you plan on using the cedar chips this coming winter and if you liked using them last year? It sounds real similiar to what Warre suggests with a quilt box.

[Michigansnowpony]

@generalbomax -- yes, I'm going to be doing the cedar chips again this Fall. I think they help with both the mites and especially the ventilation in controlling condensation / moisture build-up within the hive. I think if my traditional Langstroth hive bodies had fit together better (so water couldn't have gotten in) that hive would have survived. Next year we plan on building some type of shelter around the bees for the winter as well.

[yachtnick05]

Did your bees make it thur the winter?

[58belvedere]

You can't have bees on the ground like that here in this part of pa. the bear will get into them.

[Gypsymoonfarm]

This looks like a really good idea. Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try in in the winter of 2011.

[Dixie096]

Renee, it is so great to have you back! Favourite moment was you coaxing the bees to calm down. Quick question, what did you mean when you said "catching a wild hive"? Looking forward to many more vids soon, hopefully.

[Michigansnowpony]

@Dixie096 -- Thanks Dixie -- it's good to be back! Didn't know how addicted to youtube I was. Ha ha. Okay, I should have said catch a swarm of bees (which could be from your own hive or wild) instead of a wild hive. Sorry about the confusion! I do so much better with a script infront of me. : )

[sugerbear520]

nice

[2bears4321]

how much honey does one hive produce ? just curious .

[Michigansnowpony]

@2bears4321 From what I've read and heard, one can expect at least 40 lbs. or more from a healthy, established hive. I elected not to take any honey off my hives this first year (because I was nervous about knowing how much to leave for them for the winter). The nice thing about honey is, though, that it keeps so I can always take any "left-overs" late next Spring.

[dsarti1]

they will not come out when temp are cold enough for snow



[Praxxus55712]

This is too much work. Just bring the hives inside and keep them in your living room. Bees LOVE spending the winter inside with hot chocolate and popcorn. :)

[Michigansnowpony]

@Praxxus55712 I triple double-dog dare you Ray. . . .; )

[badger0710]

Great video! Good to see you back. Lots of good information on bees and hives.Would a higher (taller?) stand help keep the hive opening out of the snow?

[Michigansnowpony]

@badger0710 -- Yeah but the taller the hive, the more it might be prone to tipping over in blizzard winds. . . . I kinda worried about that with the little yellow garden hive which has narrower, deeper supers making it overall taller than a stardard hive. I think after it gets colder -- still in the 50's here during the daytime -- I will drill my extra ventilation holes.

[btigtime2]

I want bees

[Michigansnowpony]

@btigtime2 - Get em!!! I love having them, even if / when they sting me. (I'm not allergic at all apparently, judging from my non-reaction). Fascinating creatures for sure.

[kokonutbaby1]

Have u abstracted honey yet from the hives? Would like to see how u do that.,.great video.

[Michigansnowpony]

@kokonutbaby1 No, decided not to do that this year until I know better / more what I'm doing with my hives (i.e. how much to leave for the bees). I DID pick up an antique 2-frame extractor off Craigslist however, which cleaned up beautifully and works perfectly. My girlfriend has been using it this summer to extract her honey. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to use it next year.

[ABETRMAN]

Amazing post! Very informative! Most interesting!

[Michigansnowpony]

@ABETRMAN -- Thank you. It's kinda like the blind leading the blind, but my point is if I can do this, anyone can. : )

[jferlisi]

Good to see you back. Hope you got your comp kicked. LOL.

[STOPPUCKNOW]

GETTING BUMPED BUY THE BEES

[gstonegraphix]

Wow- great video bee video! I hope to see all the bees in the spring.I want a bottle of Michigan honey one day and I'll trade you one of my Hoosier Honey Bears-haha-Gordon

[Michigansnowpony]

@gstonegraphix Oh, I'll be sooo happy to have something to trade with you!! I've told myself if I even manage to get one of the hives through the winter, that will be a success. But I know I'll be very sad if they both don't make it.

[1978graham]

good to see you back!

[Hoovesandpaws61]

So good to see another video. By the way, do you still like/use your solar cooker?

[Michigansnowpony]

@Hoovesandpaws61 -- Yes I still love my solar oven, but I didn't use it as much as I intended / should have this summer. I find I need to get much better at planning meals ahead of time because you have to have stuff thawed / mixed up / etc. for supper so early in the day to use the solar oven. Hopefully, we'll get some sunny days this winter, but they're not too common here in the mitten during the winter months.

[bearlysceneranch]

WELCOME BACK!!! I was wondering about your rabbits too.  We have 3 Californians 2 does 1 buck and a buck lop. We just bred for the first time should be due around the 20th.

[Michigansnowpony]

@bearlysceneranch -- I need to do a rabbit video. We just ate our first one the other night and it was delicious!!!!

[dianemummvideos]

Very Interesting, the bees do stay in the hives over winter then??

[Michigansnowpony]

@dianemummvideos -- Yes. Some northern commercial bee keepers will ship their hives south or to California for the winter, but just like in nature, with enough honey stores and a strong colony, they can over-winter just fine.

[KainanRa]

Hey glad your back. I looked into bees and Im just not willing to make that jump yet. How did the rabbits go?

[Michigansnowpony]

@KainanRa -- Will be making a video on the delicious bunnies this week (I hope).

I'm geeked about homestead meat production now!!!

[IronicallyVague]

Please redo & sing a lullaby?

4 City folk, you know...

[Michigansnowpony]

@IronicallyVague -- ha ha -- if I sing, I'm not sure it would be a soothing, much less a lullaby. ; )