Bees need to maintain a specific internal environment in their hives to raise brood, ripen, and maintain the honey stores. But how do your bees manage the internal hive temperature if the outside air temperature is hot? And is it possible to become too hot for the bees? In this article, I’ll explain how your…

Old beehives are a valued resource for beekeepers because used hives are more attractive to bees.  Yes! They like them better! On top of that, reusing old hives saves the expense of buying or building new beehives. But you do need to be careful about hive hygiene! So how do you prepare a used beehive…

Top feeders for beehives are a popular and safe method of giving bees the reserves they need to survive nectar dearths.  Most beekeepers need to feed bees to overwinter their colonies successfully and ensure their honey bees start the spring season in a strong position. Hive top feeding is a highly favored option (and a…

After keeping bees for a while you’ll find you accumulate old honey from various operations.  It’s all part of the beekeeping process. But it seems such a shame to waste this precious liquid! A common idea is to use it as food during times of dearth. So can this honey be fed back to your…

Bees build up reserves for the winter season when food is scarce.  But beekeepers also “steal” honey from the hive before the end of each year. It’s a careful balancing act between how much you should take and how much to leave the bees 🙂 Obviously, you need to ensure colonies have enough food to…

The winter season is difficult for your bees, and beekeepers need to know when and when not to open a hive during this time.  Opening the hive for too long when the temperature is too low can spell disaster for the colony.  Pre-winter preparation is key to reducing the need to inspect hives in winter….

Like many hobbies, beekeepers have unique terminology when talking about honey bee activities.  The term “bee cleansing flights” is one of those expressions. It might seem pretty bemusing to newbies.  So what are these cleansing flights, when do they occur, and how do you know when you are observing them? Let’s find out… Honey Bee…

Bee colonies are less active in winter, reduce in size, and become more vulnerable. Is it a good idea to move your beehives to a new location during winter, or will this move in the winter season compromise the bees? We will answer these winter beekeeping questions so you know your best course of action…

Beekeeping is an activity that ebbs and flows with the seasons.  So beekeepers must understand what happens in the colony at different times throughout the year. For example, the onset of autumn marks a slowing down of activity inside the hive. And in the fall, you need to know how to manage bees to prepare…

Overwintering bees can be a nerve-racking time for beekeepers. We want to keep them alive, well-fed, and healthy so that the colony survives the winter and is ready for work in the upcoming spring.  But if your bees are struggling, you’ll probably need to feed them when they reach the coldest part of the year….