Wintering bees on the street in different regions of Russia. Preparing bees for winter outdoors

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The best option for organizing wintering for bees is the will, that is, on the street. Even the harsh Russian winters, subject to the necessary measures for warming, will allow insects to safely survive this period. At the same time, there are no special requirements for the design of the hives. The main thing is the observance of the modes of hygroscopicity, thermal insulation and accompanying conditions of comfort. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the wintering of bees on the street in different regions has its own characteristics. And not always cold climatic conditions complicate the preparation for this period. In each case, you should use the advantages of the region and strive to minimize the negative factors.

Basic preparations

Strong bee families winter safely in the wild, if appropriate insulation, food supplies and protection from the wind are provided for the hives. In many regions wintering outdoors is more popular than indoors due to the fact that after this period there is a more intensive development of colonies in the spring with early overflights. Experts also point out thatthe constant keeping of insects in the wild ensures their high productivity and vital activity. This is also evidenced by the volume of honey consumption, which exceeds similar indicators in winter quarters.

To achieve these and other positive results, you should deal with the question of how to prepare bees for wintering on the street. There are several options for organizing a period. If you plan to leave bees in apiaries, it is advisable to use casings. But this method is not suitable for everyone because of the extra costs and hassle. Hives must be combined into common houses, which are then covered with a casing made of any insulating material. In warm regions, the hives are left in their original places, making light thermal insulation. If a small snow cover falls in winter, then you can leave the houses under the snow, which in itself creates a warming effect. In all cases, it is necessary to provide reliable protection against water and consider good ventilation.

Organization of wintering in sunbeds

Beehive-bed is different in that the beekeeper forms the structure not with cases, but with frames. This allows you to optimize space and generally simplifies maintenance. Rather, it expands the functionality of the hive, providing opportunities for finer "settings" of the internal microclimate. The expansion or contraction of space is carried out on the sides - these are, in particular, the classic Dadan and Ukrainian types of frames. They have almost the same organization of wintering. And yet there is one difference. The fact is thatwintering of bees in sun loungers on the street using the Ukrainian model assumes the location of food reserves in a vertical plane. This means that the upper layer will receive advantages in access to bee bread and honey. Frames in Dadan hives are smaller, which is not so beneficial in terms of the quality of keeping bees.

So, now it's time to move on to the very preparation of the hive-lounger for wintering. It is worth starting the revision in the fall, determining the amount of food reserves, the condition of the fetal uterus, as well as the need for additional feeding. For insulation, you can use foam, adjusting the sheets in accordance with the parameters of the hive. You can leave a small gap of 5-7 mm without bringing the panel close to the wall. This will not harm the thermal insulation, but it will ensure the removal of moisture from the nest. In general, the preparation of bees for wintering on the street involves focusing on materials that "breathe". This applies to both wall insulation and ceiling insulation.

Optimal number of frames

For strong families, a design for 8-10 frames is usually used. In this case, it is assumed that the family will occupy the entire surface of the elements horizontally. This nuance defines Dadanov's configuration as a better option compared to the Ukrainian lounger. Versions for 18-20 frames are also quite common. This configuration can be varied by removing or adding several components.

The strength of the families should guide the number of frames. Again, the 10-frame design is suitable for strong bees, andoptions for 5-6 elements - for medium. Separately, it is worth considering the situation with weak colonies when it is planned to winter the bees on the street on the 2nd frame of the hive. The problem with such nests is that the bees are forced to spend more vital resources on heating the club. Therefore, there is a risk that they simply will not survive until spring. There may be several ways out. First of all, it is worth placing such a nest next to a strong family, but through a solid partition. Another effective measure could be to provide each weak family with a separate entrance.

Ventilation and insulation nuances

Ensuring proper air exchange helps to eliminate the main danger for bees - dampness. Many people mistakenly assume that two tapholes in the upper and lower parts are enough. However, the exits in severe frosts are covered with layers of hoarfrost, and then the bees themselves stick around them. As a result, ventilation becomes difficult. The solution may be to provide ventilation in the roof, but here it is important to provide protection from wind and birds. In this case, the wintering of bees on the street under the film will not help either, since the formation of condensate will lead to even greater accumulations of moisture, which is detrimental even for strong families. It is best to equip hives with metal ventilation meshes.

Another problem in terms of providing microclimate is the sun. In winter, it would seem that this phenomenon should be beneficial, but the sun's rays can provoke early egg laying, which is undesirable. Wooden shields, which are used to protect against wind, will help in creating shade. greatestattention is still required thermal insulation. There is one nuance in its creation. It is connected with the fact that the bees form a club in the places of warming, which is undesirable. For this reason, wintering of bees on the street without insulation is organized, which is also wrong. Insulation work should be carried out immediately before frost, so that families do not have time to create a club near this material. Also, in most cases, it makes no sense to make reinforced thermal insulation on the sides - as a rule, it is enough to insulate the roof with high quality.

What should be the honey supply?

Preparing for winter, one rule should be considered: it is better to increase food reserves than to miscalculate in the direction of their reduction. Let the surplus honey remain unclaimed in the hives, rather than the family die or starve to death. Under no circumstances do bees waste food in vain, so frugality is inappropriate in this case. If a multi-hull nest is planned, then the preparation of bees for wintering on the street will involve a supply of food of about 40 kg. It should also be borne in mind that in winter, families move only vertically. It is best if the stocks are in the upper part - insects will fly up to them from below. The most natural configuration would be a two-tiered nest where the bees can easily navigate the streets. As a last resort, to ensure freer movement, the inter-hull space should be expanded.

If you plan to use traditional nests in sunbeds, then the calculation of honeyshould be made from the number of frames. For example, in a 12-component hive, 2.5 kg of feed should be left for each frame. In addition, the wintering of bees on the street will become prosperous if full-copper stores are preserved. This will at least prevent families from starving, and also allow them to conserve vital resources.

Features of wintering in the Urals

In this region, the requirements for both microclimate and top dressing are increasing. You should not forget about the peculiarities of preparation in the autumn, before the onset of cold weather. Although the arrival of frost in the Urals is often observed in November, it is not worth rushing to clean the bees in the winter hut. Insects in these parts are deficient in heat and light, so you need to give them the opportunity to fly in before being placed in stuffy and dry houses. However, it is in November that the beekeeper must decide what kind of wintering bees will have on the street. In the Urals, in particular, there are special requirements for the formation of honey reserves. It is advisable to use honey from fireweed, white clover, as well as from acacia and sweet clover. Conversely, the food base in the form of honey from colza, rapeseed and mustard should not be left to the bees during this period.

During wintering, the beekeeper must regularly monitor the microclimate in the hives. Again, dampness is an issue in this region, so effective ventilation is essential. By the way, high humidity contributes to the deterioration of honey and the death of workers. People's advice also helps to fight dampness. For example, experienced beekeepers recommend, in order to preserve food, even in the autumnit's time to update the propolis sheets. Oddly enough, the wintering of bees on the street in the Urals may also involve the opening of upper entrances. But this is a justified measure to ensure ventilation. In general, in order for the bees not to leave the house, it is recommended to maintain a cool microclimate in the hives. But you should remember that in such conditions it should be dark.

Features of wintering in the Kuban

Although the Kuban is a southern region, the conditions for wintering here are not the most favorable. The main problems are due to the unpredictability of the climate. So, if the wintering of bees on the street in Siberia involves intensive work with thermal insulation, the preparation of large food supplies and all kinds of resistance to frost, then the Kuban can present surprises in the form of a thaw, which requires the beekeeper to take appropriate measures. A common story is when, during the first cold weather in November, the beekeeper insulates the houses, counting on winter frosts. However, already in January, a sharp increase in temperature can occur. And in March, on the contrary, frosts are possible. The result of such dynamic climatic conditions may be the weakening of colonies or premature fruiting of queens.

Only timely measures to adapt the hives to the current temperature and humidity outside will help solve problems with microclimatic conditions. But in any case, high-quality ventilation must be provided. Also, do not overfeed the bees. This is a rare case when excess honey is not beneficial. In addition, wintering bees outdoors in warm regions offers good protection against rodents. The point is that insectstolerate a mouse smell, so special poisonous agents should be provided.

Wintering in the Northwest Region

The place is not the most problematic in terms of severe frosts, but this does not negate the need for appropriate insulation and protection from moisture. Work should be carried out in three directions: creating a hive design with the expectation of a long winter, thermal insulation and ensuring air exchange. As for the design, in this zone, double-walled and single-walled hives are more often used, in which it is more convenient to store honey and carry out top dressing. The next question about how to prepare bees for wintering outdoors in the Northwest region concerns thermal insulation and air exchange. These measures should be combined, since the insulation affects ventilation, and vice versa. As practice shows, it is best to use an insulating material with high thermal performance. It will help remove water vapor from the hive, and the family in such a house will consume less honey.

Features of wintering in the suburbs

In this case, a balanced approach to all the nuances of wintering is important. As the experience of beekeepers in the Moscow region shows, one can count on a successful wintering under the following conditions: the absence of snow mounds (even taking into account their thermal insulation properties), the exclusion of any coatings and wrapping materials, the organization of ventilation through a round notch in the upper part. A sufficient amount of food is also placed on the frames, but soso that the filling occurs in half of the element. Such a decision will allow the family to organize the basis of the club on the frame. But there is another opinion - that the wintering of bees on the street in the Moscow region should be organized with full copper framework, otherwise the colony will be exhausted or die of hunger. But a lot depends on the condition of the bees. For example, a strong family is better off with more free space, while a weak one is better off with enough food.

Conclusion

The life of bees in the springtime, which is responsible in terms of productivity, depends on what the outcome of wintering will be. A well-wintered family is rapidly developing and gaining strength for the upcoming honey collection. Conversely, under poor conditions, colonies become exhausted and lose their queens. In this sense, the wintering of bees on the street is considered by experts as the most successful option for organizing favorable conditions in such a difficult period. For comparison, in the premises in which they live until spring, the conditions are unnatural, which negatively affects the condition of families. Another thing is that wintering in the wild in itself imposes a lot of worries on the beekeeper, who needs to create a suitable microclimate. Also, in addition to temperature and ventilation, the correct calculation of feed is required. In the complex, all the described activities will allow you to live until spring with strong and he althy bee colonies.