October 2, 2015 – Fall maintenance is underway for the beehives. A few items on your to-do list:
• Reduce the size of the hive. Take the top boxes off and stand them on end in front of your hive. Your bees will get the honey out of these frames and pack it away in the brood boxes.
• Feed your bees. A sugar water feeder should be installed on the hive. Make the mixture of 1 part water to 2 parts sugar (or 8# sugar to 1 gal. water). Keep feeding the mixture until the bees stop taking it into the hive.
• It is getting cold and mice are looking for warm and dry places to spend the winter!! Be sure you have your mouse excluders in.
These steps ensure that the bees will have adequate food stores and space inside the hive for the winter months.