Volume 2 -------------------- January 14, 2011 --------------------Number 6
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What To Do With Bees Coming Out Of Winter: Part IV
Rotate Hive Bodies
by David Burns, EAS certified Master Beekeeper
It's important for beekeepers to be well prepared to properly manage hives that have survived the winter. In our last installment we looked
into a more detailed look at the Demaree swarm prevention method. Use this acronym to help you remember how to prepare:
Stimulate For Rapid Foraging Force
Prevent Swarms
Rotate Hive Bodies
Inspect The Productivity Of The Queen
New Queen
Give 1:1 Sugar Water & Pollen Patties
It is important for the second year beekeeper to understand how the bees gradually move upward in the hive during the winter.
During the winter the cluster gradually moves upward into the top hive body eating its way into stored honey above the cluster.
Normally the colony is found in the upper deep hive body during the start of spring, leaving the bottom deep hive body empty of
bees and honey. The colony will expand in the upper hive body but will quickly become congested and will not likely move down.
The congestion can cause the colony to swarm. Therefore, by reversing the hive bodies the main nesting area is placed on the bottom,
giving the colony room to expand into the upper hive body thus elevating congestion and helping to prevent swarming.
This is referred to by beekeepers as rotating the hive bodies or also as reversing the hive bodies. Many beekeepers become too eager
to reverse the hive bodies and make a mistake so huge that it devastates the hive, and the colony usually never fully recovers. So let me
give some practical advice on rotating the hive bodies.
First, DO NOT ROTATE TOO EARLY. Many beekeepers rotate the boxes too early in the season when the nights are still below freezing.
While a large hive may not be too effected, a smaller hive can suffer from now being on the bottom. Why? When they were in the top of the
hive, they enjoyed living in the pocket of heat that became trapped in the upper part of the hive. This provided assistance in heating the newly
reared brood. I the hive bodies are rotated and the temperature drops drastically from a surprise spring cold snap, the colony is now on the
bottom and may have difficulty keeping the brood warm. In Illinois I make it a firm practice never to make splits or rotate hive bodies until after
May 1. I simply want warmer nights.
Secondly, many beekeepers make the mistake of not fully inspecting and locating the nesting area. Before reversing the hive bodies it is essential
that the hive be inspected. If any of the nesting area dips down into the lower hive body, DO NOT REVERSE. If the brood/nesting area was in
the upper half of the lower deep, and into the lower half of the upped deep then rotating will damage and break up the brood area and the hive
will likely not recover throughout the summer.
So before rotating, make sure there is no brood area in the lower hive body. It must be empty of brood, capped or uncapped. If there are some
bees in the lower hive, but no brood, it is okay to rotate.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY VIDEO ON ROTATING HIVE BODIES
Let me summarize rotating hive bodies:
* Be sure the nights are warm enough not to chill the brood.
* Check and make certain all capped and uncapped brood is found in the upper hive body.
* To rotate, simply reverse the locations of the hive bodies. Place the bottom one on top and the tope one on the bottom.
...in our next article Inspecting The Productivity Of The Queen
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IN THE NEWS....
In Montana Honey Bees Produced A Ton Of Hay & Honey
Farmers in Montana have the honey bee to thank for a great crop of hay. The honey bee did her job pollinating the
Alfalfa. Montana hives produced over 10 million pounds of honey...Read More
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Give us a call at: 217-427-2678 to get yours while they last!
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Look At Our Next Beekeeping Classes:
February 4th 6pm - 8pm How To Make Cream Honey CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
March 4th (Friday night 6-8pm Pest & Diseases: Diagnosis & Prevention CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
March 19th (Saturday) Basic Beekeeping 9am - 3pm CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
May 14th (Saturday) QUEEN REARING COURSE 9am - 3pm CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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Here at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms we are offering a special one hive,
1 three pound packages and all of the supplies. This was our holiday special
that we decided to continue until January 15th. FREE SHIPPING.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS and thank you for your business.
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telling your friends about BEE SMART and passing it along to others.
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(217) 427-2678
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Long Lane Honey Bee Farms is here to serve the beekeeping community with beekeeping equipment, 3 lb packages, nucs, queens and more.
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