Beekeeping in Northern Climates

Beekeeping in northern climates can be challenging. It’s important to remember that temperatures in the hive can drop below zero degrees. The temperature can decrease to -40 degrees. Air can easily chill through the cracks and openings in the hive, and the colony will only come out to urinate and lay eggs. Despite the harsh weather, bees will continue to produce honey even in the coldest conditions.

Bees need protection from wind during the winter months. You can install man-made obstructions like trees or shrubs or cover your hives with a sheet of insulation wrap. Alternatively, you can simply move your hives to a sheltered location. But be careful to avoid the windy site as this can cause injury to your bees. You’ll need to keep them warm for the winter, which means you’ll need to feed them with honey in order to survive the cold.

Beekeeping in northern climates requires a certain level of knowledge about the seasonal climatic conditions in your area. The winter months are especially tough on bees. Infrared images of clustered bees reveal that the temperature of the hive cluster is just barely above the ambient temperature of the outside air. During this time, warm moist air condenses and becomes water droplets, threatening the colony below. This moisture can make the colony difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature, and the risk of cold death is too great.

Besides keeping bees in a winter-friendly location, beekeeping in northern climates requires specific preparation. The first step is to choose a location with full access to sunlight. After choosing a location, beekeepers need to prepare the site for the winter months. During this period, the queen and the bees must be moved to a warmer location. The bees will need to be moved to the warmer area for the winter, where they can stay warm and dry.

In the winter months, beekeepers should avoid manipulating the hives. This is because the colony’s temperature is low and a quick inspection is possible. Nevertheless, it is advisable to conduct regular and thorough inspections on warmer days, as it will allow the colonies to rear their brood. However, the apiculturist should also avoid manipulating the hives in the cold winter.

When winter starts, beekeepers should minimize manipulation of their hives. Checking the colonies is possible only during warm days, and quick checks should be done only on warm days. Once the days start getting longer, colonies will begin to rear brood and quickly expand their brood nest. Once they are able to find enough pollen, they can continue their beekeeping operations until the end of the year.

In the Northern climates, Varroa and tracheal mites are the primary sources of diseases that weaken bee colonies. In the late summer and early fall, Varroa and tracheal have the advantage of being more abundant in protein, which is helpful for winter survival. The bees’ reproductive system is also more stable in the colder climates.

A key challenge for beekeepers in northern climates is finding a suitable source for a colony. Many northern beekeepers purchase packages of bees from the southern states. These bees have poor genetics and are unlikely to survive a winter in a northern climate. For this reason, it is better to invest in a package of bees with a proven track record of survival.

When it comes to wintering bees in a northern climate, you’ll want to make sure that your hive is properly insulated to prevent wind and cold. The right location is also important for wintering. It needs to be protected from rain and strong winds, and there should be plenty of sunlight and warmth inside. The hive should be well ventilated, so that it can keep a constant temperature.