Wintering of bees in the streets in different regions of Russia. Preparation of bees for wintering on the street

The best option for organizing wintering for bees is will, that is, on the street. Even severe Russian winters, provided that the necessary measures are taken to insulate the insects safely survive this period. In this case, special requirements for the construction of hives are not presented. The main thing is compliance with hygroscopic, thermal insulation and comfort conditions. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the wintering of bees on the streets in different regions has its own characteristics. And not always cold climatic conditions complicate the preparation for this period. In each case, one should use the advantages of the region and seek to minimize negative factors.

Main preparatory activities

Strong bee colonies safely winter in the wild, if for the hives provide for adequate warming, fodder supplies and protection from the wind. In many regions, wintering on the street is more popular than indoors, for the reason that after this period there is a more intensive development of families in the spring with early flights. Specialists also emphasize that the constant maintenance of insects on the will ensures their high productivity and livelihoods. This is evidenced by the volumes of honey consumption, which exceed the similar figures in winterers.

To achieve these and other positive results, it is necessary to understand the question of how to prepare bees for wintering on the street. There are several options for organizing the period. If you plan to leave bees on apiaries, it is advisable to use covers. But this method is not suitable for all because of extra costs and hassle. Hives must be combined in common houses, which are then covered with a casing made of any insulating material. In warm regions, the hives are left in their original places, making an easy thermal insulation. If in the winter a small snow cover falls, then you can leave the houses under the snow, which in itself creates a warming effect. In all cases, it is necessary to provide reliable protection against water and to think about good ventilation.

Organization of wintering in sunbeds

The beetle-lounger is distinguished by the fact that the beekeeper forms the structure not in hulls, but in frames. This allows you to optimize the space and generally simplifies the maintenance. Rather, it expands the functionality of the hive, providing opportunities for more subtle "settings" of the internal microclimate. Expansion or reduction of space is carried out on the sides - this is, in particular, the classical Dadan and Ukrainian types of framework. They almost the same organization of wintering. And yet there is one difference. The fact is that the wintering of bees in sun loungers on the street with the use of the Ukrainian model suggests the location of fodder stocks in the vertical plane. This means that the upper layer will benefit from access to perge and honey. In Dadan hives the frames have a smaller height, which is not so advantageous from the point of view of the quality of the bees' content.

So, now it is worth moving to the very preparation of a hive-lodge for wintering. It is still necessary to begin the audit in the autumn, determining the amount of fodder reserves, the condition of the fetus, and the need for additional fertilization. For insulation, polystyrene can be used, adjusting the sheets according to the parameters of the hive. You can leave a small gap 5-7 mm, not bringing the panel close to the wall. This will not cause damage to the thermal insulation, but it will ensure the moisture outlet from the nest. In general, the preparation of bees for wintering on the street assumes an orientation toward materials that "breathe". This applies to the insulation of walls, and to ceiling insulation.

Optimum number of frames

For strong families, a construction of 8-10 frames is usually used. In this case, it is assumed that the family will occupy the entire surface of the elements horizontally. This nuance determines exactly the Dada's configuration as a more successful option compared to the Ukrainian sunbed. Pretty common and versions on 18-20 frames. Such a configuration can be varied by removing or adding several components.

The definition of the number of frameworks should be guided by the power of families. Again, the 10-frame design is suitable for strong bees, and the variants for 5-6 elements are for medium. Separately, it is worth considering the situation with weak families, when winter bees are planned to be on the street on the 2nd hive framework. The problem of such nests is connected with the fact that bees are forced to spend more vital resources on heating the club. Therefore, there is a risk that they will not survive until spring. There are several ways out of the situation. First of all, it is worth placing such a nest next to a strong family, but through a solid partition. Another effective measure may be to supply each weak family with a separate entrance.

Nuances of ventilation and insulation

Providing a full air exchange helps to eliminate the main danger for bees - dampness. Many mistakenly assume that there are enough two tapes in the top and bottom. However, the outcrops in severe frosts are covered with layers of frost, and then bees themselves beset them. As a result, ventilation is difficult. The exit may be to ensure the possibility of ventilation in the roof, but it is important to provide protection from wind and birds. In this case, the wintering of bees in the street under the film will not help, since the formation of condensate will lead to even greater accumulations of moisture, which is fatal even for strong families. It is best to equip the beehives with metal ventilation grids.

Another problem in terms of providing a microclimate is the sun. In winter, it would seem, this phenomenon should be beneficial, but the sun's rays can provoke early oviposition, which is undesirable. The creation of the shadow will help wooden shields, which are used to protect against wind. Still the greatest attention is required by thermal insulation. In its creation there is one nuance. It is connected with the fact that bees form the club in places of warming, which is undesirable. For this reason, the wintering of bees on the street is organized without warming, which is also wrong. Perform insulation work immediately before freezing, so that families do not have time to create a club near this material. Also in most cases, it makes no sense to make reinforced insulation on the sides - as a rule, it is enough to insulate the roof qualitatively.

What should be the honey supply?

When preparing for winter, one rule should be taken into account: fodder reserves should be increased more than miscalculated in the direction of their decrease. Let it be better that the surpluses of honey remain in the hives unclaimed, than the family will die or be exhausted from hunger. Under no circumstances do bees spend their food in vain, so economy is inappropriate in this case. If a multi-hull is planned, the preparation of bees for wintering on the street will presuppose a forage reserve of approximately 40 kg. It should also be taken into account that in winter, families move only vertically. Best of all, if the reserves are at the top - insects will fly up to them from below. The most natural configuration can be a two-tiered nest in which bees can easily navigate through the streets. In extreme cases, to ensure a more free movement should expand the inter-corpus space.

If you plan to use traditional nests in sun beds, then the calculation of honey should be done from the number of frames. For example, in a 12-component hive, 2.5 kg of feed per frame should be left. In addition, the wintering of bees in the street will be successful, if you keep the shops full of shops. This will at least prevent famine starvation, and also allow them to save vital resources.

Features of wintering in the Urals

In this region, the requirements for the microclimate and for feeding are increased. We should not forget about the specifics of training in the autumn, before the onset of cold weather. Although the arrival of frosts in the Urals is often observed in November, there is no need to hurry with the cleaning of bees in the winter hut. Insects in these parts are experiencing a shortage of heat and light, so you need to give them the opportunity to fly in before stuffing in stuffy and dry houses. However, it is in November that the beekeeper must decide what wintering bees will be on the street. In the Urals, in particular, there are special requirements for the formation of honey reserves. It is advisable to use honey spray, white clover, as well as acacia and sweet clover. Conversely, the food base in the form of honey from rape, rapeseed and mustard should not be left to bees during this period.

During the wintering process, the beekeeper must regularly monitor the microclimate in the hives. Again, in this region the problem of dampness is acute, therefore it is necessary to perform effective ventilation. By the way, high humidity contributes to the damage of honey and the death of toilers. The people's councils also help fight against dampness. For example, experienced beekeepers recommend, in order to preserve the food, in the autumn time, to update the covers with propolis. Strangely enough, the wintering of bees in the street in the Urals can provide for the opening of the upper tap. But this is a justified measure to ensure ventilation. In general, to ensure that bees do not leave the house, it is recommended to maintain a cool microclimate in the hives. But it should be remembered that in such conditions it should be dark.

Features of wintering in the Kuban

Although the Kuban is a southern region, the conditions for wintering here are not the most favorable. The main problems are due to unpredictability of the climate. So, if wintering bees outdoors in Siberia involves intensified work with thermal insulation, the preparation of large fodder reserves and all kinds of resistance to frost, then the Kuban can present surprises in the form of a thaw, which requires the beekeeper to take appropriate measures. The usual story is when, during the first November cold, the beekeeper insulates the houses, counting on winter frosts. However, in January, a sharp increase in temperature may occur. And in March, on the contrary, frosts are possible. The result of such dynamic climatic conditions may be the weakening of families or the premature fertility of the queens.

Solving the problems with microclimatic conditions will be helped only by timely measures to adapt the hives to the current indicators of temperature and humidity on the street. But in any case, quality ventilation should be provided. Also, do not overfeed the bees. This is a rare case when the surplus honey does not benefit. In addition, the wintering of bees outdoors in warm regions suggests good protection from rodents. The fact is that insects do not tolerate murine smell, so special poisoning agents should be provided.

Wintering in the North-West Region

The place is not the most problematic in terms of severe frosts, but this does not negate the need for appropriate insulation and protection from moisture. The work should be carried out in three directions: the creation of a hive design with the expectation of a prolonged winter, heat insulation and air exchange. With regard to the design, in this zone more often use hull two- and single-wall hives, in which it is more convenient to store honey and carry out feeding. The next question on how to prepare bees for wintering on the street in the North-West region, concerns thermal insulation and air exchange. These measures should be combined, as the insulation affects ventilation, and vice versa. As practice shows, it is best to use an insulating material with high thermophysical parameters. It will promote the removal of water vapor from the hive, and the family in this house will consume less honey.

Features of wintering in the suburbs

In this case, a balanced approach to all the nuances of wintering is important. As the experience of beekeepers of the Moscow region shows, one can count on successful wintering under the following conditions: the absence of snow embankments (even taking into account their thermal insulation properties), the exclusion of any coatings and wrapping materials, and the organization of ventilation through a round duct in the upper part. A sufficient amount of food is also placed on the frame, but so that the filling takes place by half of the element. This decision will allow the family to organize on the frame the basis of the club. But there is another opinion - that the wintering of bees on the street in the suburbs should be organized with a full-frame framework, otherwise the family will be exhausted or die from hunger. But much depends on the condition of the bees. For example, it is better for a strong family to leave more space, and weak - to provide a sufficient amount of fattening.

Conclusion

From what the outcome of the wintering will be, the vital activity of the bees depends on the spring time, which is responsible from the point of view of productivity. A family that has been safely overwintered is developing rapidly and is gaining strength for the forthcoming honey crop. And on the contrary, in poor conditions, families are exhausted and lose their queens. In this sense, the wintering of bees on the street is considered by experts as the most successful option for organizing favorable conditions in such a difficult period. For comparison, in the premises in which they live until the spring, the conditions are unnatural, which negatively affects the condition of families. Another thing is that wintering on the will itself imposes a lot of worries on the beekeeper, who needs to create a suitable microclimate. Also, except for temperature and ventilation, the correct calculation of the feed is required. In the complex, all the described activities will make it possible to live to the spring with strong and healthy bee colonies.