What we need in a properly prepared hive:
- A strong population, 10 frames of adhering bees ( bees on both sides ).
- A young queen that has not been through a winter.
- 90 - 100 lbs of honey. The top box 8 full frames of honey, one partially filled frame in center of box. It would be nice to have a couple of frames in the box the bee are in. That would be in the middle box in a three high colony or the bottom box in a two high colony.
- Feed early if the hive doesn't have this amount of honey. The bees take it fast in Sept. they can drain a gallon feeder pail in two or three days. Use 2 : 1 sugar syrup or High Fructose Corn Syrup in the fall.
- Give the colony two gallons of syrup treated with fumigilan.
- Make sure colony is as mite free as possible. Treat if needed.
- A top entrance needs to be kept open all winter.
- The entrance reducer should be when temperatures start getting in the lower 40's.
- A moisture release board that lays on top of the inner cover.
- Cover the hive with a winter cover.
