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POST #1: MARCH 1, 2024

2024 MINNESOTA “SNOWMAN”

Other than a few subzero temps in January, it was an easy winter on honey bees, but that brought new questions.

With this warm weather, do I need to be concerned about them consuming more honey?

Leaving 80-100 pounds of honey in climate zones 1-4 should be very sufficient. Our research hives located in Minnesota are consuming about a pound of honey a week. No more than any other winter. Research shows that it’s not until ambient temperatures consistently reach above 60° that bees will consume more food as they become more active.

When do I take off the Hive Hugger insulation?

No rush to remove the insulation as spring is a very vulnerable time for the colony. In fact, it is the time of year with the highest mortality rate, which can be very confusing and frustrating for the beekeeper. Once the queen starts laying eggs, the old winter bees need to activate their glands to care for the brood and generate enough heat to keep the brood at 95°. If we get a cold snap and they are unable to maintain the brood temperature of 95°, they will quit trying and the colony will perish. We recommend leaving the Hive Hugger on until temps are consistently at least 60°.

For more tips on springtime management, see the YouTube titled “Hive Hugger Springtime 2024 Q & A.”

Post #2 April 1, 2024

A beekeeper shared this suggestion as an alternative to using the Tyvek tape to seal the seams around the Crown and inner cover. Instead, he used weather stripping under his telescoping cover to create a seal. He said it made it easier to inspect his hives by not having to remove the tape. If anyone else has suggestions on how they have modified the product to make it work better for them, please feel free to email us. Thank you!