10/27/2026
How are the bees readied for winter? 🍯
This is a question I get asked quite often!
As the temperatures start dropping,I make sure my bees are prepared for the long winter ahead.
Plenty of honey! 🍯 First and foremost, I make sure to leave plenty of their own honey in the hives. It’s their main food source throughout the winter.
Smaller entrances. I reduce the hive entrances to help limit cold drafts and keep mice and other unwanted visitors out.
Quilt boxes. I place a quilt box filled with wood shavings on top of each hive. These help absorb excess moisture while providing some insulation. Moisture buildup can be just as dangerous to bees as the cold!
Sugar blocks. I also make sugar blocks to place above the bees as emergency food in case their honey stores run low. The sugar can also help absorb moisture inside the hive.
Honeybees don’t hibernate! They cluster together during the winter, generating heat and slowly moving through their food stores until spring arrives.
Now we wait, and look forward to seeing those busy little bees flying again in the spring! 💛🐝
