Ruhl Bee
Supply
This page is your seasonal cheat sheet for keeping on top of beekeeping chores. We highly recommend you refer to your beekeeping book of choice for detailed information on the following topics. And remember, beekeeping is always local, so you'll need to make adjustments according to your elevation and location!
Feb 6, 2012
With the warmer weather this week this bees should be flying. If they are you can do a litte maintenance like cleaning the tops side of the inner cover without removing it from the hive body. If you have a solid bottom board, this is a good time to clear it from any dead bees that accumulate under the hive body. Carefully use a wire coat hanger.
We are past the winter solstice, so the queen might slowly begin production soon, depending climate. Moisture in the hive is a big problem this time of year. If you do plan to feed the bees during this period, try dry food such as Drivert sugar and pollen patties or pollen substitute powder. The bees take to it readly, and it does not add moisture the way syrup does. If you have a deep inner cover you can sprinkle some drivert on the inner cover hole, and place the rest in a doughnut shape aroud the inner cover. Remember, any intrusion into the hive during cold weather must be very brief. Best to wait for the next "warmer" winter day.
You can give your bees some extra protection by placing a piece of oversized plywood ontop of your hive lid. Place a rck on top to hold it down. See picture on the right side.
Visit our Gladstone store at
17845 SE 82nd Drive,
Gladstone, Oregon 97027
Or call us at 503 657 5399
