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Author Topic: Overwintering bees in Maine  (Read 3203 times)

Offline marliah

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Overwintering bees in Maine
« on: November 10, 2008, 07:23:03 am »
I'm just wondering if there is anything special I need to do to overwinter bees in Maine. Do I need to wrap the hives? entrance reducer? or will they be ok for winter? I have one hive (this is their first year) two full deep boxes and they have a whole super of honey. Is that all they should need or is there something else I should be doing?

Thanks in advance!

Tara
Tara
beekeeper in central Maine
Finally getting bees again! 6/12/13

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Overwintering bees in Maine
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2008, 07:54:18 am »
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline marliah

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Re: Overwintering bees in Maine
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2008, 07:59:44 am »
thank you!
so I can just take some mesh and staple it to the hive? over the entrance.

And for a top entrance, can I just drill a couple holes in the top of the hive? or does it require something more in depth than that?
Tara
beekeeper in central Maine
Finally getting bees again! 6/12/13

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Overwintering bees in Maine
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2008, 09:08:12 pm »
>so I can just take some mesh and staple it to the hive? over the entrance.

If it's big enough for the bees and the drones to get out and small enough to keep the mice out.  I've used 1/4" but some say that's too small.  They sell mouse guards at the supply places, but I've not used them.

>And for a top entrance, can I just drill a couple holes in the top of the hive?

I hate holes in my hives.  I'd cut a notch in the inner cover if it doesn't already have one.

> or does it require something more in depth than that?

The hole will do.  I'd just prefer not to have the hole.  Another option is a Imirie shim.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline woodchopper

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Re: Overwintering bees in Maine
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2008, 02:59:34 pm »
Don't know what part of Maine you are in but we get quite a bit of snow around our hives in So. Maine.  Last year we just put on mouse guards and closed off the SBB's to keep the drafts out. Didn't bother wrapping.  We have our hives elevated about 14" so as to allow the bees to get out when we have a certain amount of snow on the ground. That worked for us last year.
Every man looks at his wood pile with a kind of affection- Thoreau

Offline WhipCityBeeMan

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Re: Overwintering bees in Maine
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2008, 09:22:56 pm »
Dont forget to hope for the best.  You can do (or at least think you did) everything right and still loose hives. 

What kind of bees do you have?
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