We generally term the Autumn as the start of beekeeping year.
We have taken off the honey crop - if any.
We insert Bayvarol Strips – if using them.
Remember to remove after 6 weeks.
This allows bees to be bred without varroa mite debilitating them.
At same time feed hive 2 gallons syrup – 2lb/pt OR 1kilo/litre – feed 10 litre syrup.
Monitor for Varroa re-infestation from your bees robbing weaker colonies.
Colony Collapse Disorder partly due to robbed bees joining up with the robbers.
In October place 4 matches across corners to lift Crown Board.
Allows air to circulate round hive to reduce moisture and carbon dioxide.
If weather allows bees will forage on Ivy
Prepare to feed fondant in New Year if bees used up stores making brood
This good thing in a way as hives going into Winter with lots of new young bees.
Place a heavy stone on roof so hive not blown over.

Make time now to
Go over your actions of the past year and make a note of all your mistakes.
We all do make mistakes
I still haven’t got the hang of grafting for queens and using Apidias
Maybe you and I just need to do things in a slightly different way to get it right
Make a New Year’s resolution to try not to repeat the mistakes of this year.
I did it last New Year – but I made different ones this year

Spend the Winter :--

1) Making plans for next year. - Like raising a few queens
2) Repairing old equipment. - Clean propolis off now – don’t wait until May
3) Making up new equipment. - Again no use trying to make up boxes and frames with a swarm waiting to be hived
4) Have a spare Floor, Brood Box with Frames and Roof - If swarm arrives into apiary what will you do?
5) Reading Library books. - There are a few bee books on the shelves-Tullycarnet.
6) Studying for the Intermediate Exam - Learn more about these fascinating insects
7) Attending lectures - Listen to how other people keep their bees
 8) Attending Association meetings. - A social evening with a wee bit of learning attached
9) Visit your hives occasionally to check they are still there, still upright, and still have enough food.
10) Visit hives Especially after a storm.

Once the days are lengthen there is the anticipation of a New Year beginning.
About early Jan., the Queen starts to lay again – only a few eggs each day.
We must help the bees maintain the Brood Nest at 95 F  ( 35 C ).

So: -- 1) Remove the matches under the Crown Board.
          2) Put sacking or pieces of carpet on top, under the roof, to keep the heat in.

The bees eat honey and use it to move their muscles so generating heat.
This is how the temperature in the hive is raised.
So from now on stores can be used up very fast.
Heft the hive whenever you visit it to check that there are enough stores.
Lift each side to judge weight
If a hive is light you  CANNOT  feed syrup until mid-March.
You must give Candy – which you can make yourself.
There are recipes in all the bee books.
It is much easier to give them Bakers Fondant – Andrew of Hillsborough sells it in
12½ kg. packs for an affordable price.
Fill plastic boxes (eg take-away boxes) and place over feed hole – under the packing.
A New Year has started in the hive and we look forward with the Beekeeper’s  optimism to a Bumper Honey Harvest.

 
Do not forget about the Varroa mite – it is breeding too
So in the middle of Feb start monitoring the varroa drop in the hive
Bayvarol strips, if needed ,have to be out by mid April to put supers on the hives
So treatment has to begin no later than beginning of March

On a warm day in mid-March take off the roof and lay beside hive.
Place brood box on the upturned roof.
Give the floor a Spring Clean – better if have spare floor, so can just replace it
Take it home and scrub and disinfect it before using it on another hive.
Replace the brood box and the roof.
Have done 2 things – Cleaned the floor and Judged how much stores in hive
Lot of debris gathers under Varroa Mesh – breeding ground for Wax Moth
Do the operation gently and the bees have not been disturbed.
No need to examine frames until mid-April.

Summing Up

Feed at least 2 gallons syrup – 2lb sugar to the pint of water (1kg per 1lt)
Remove Bayvarol strips – if used after 6 weeks.
Fit mouse guards if you keep the entrance wide.
Store all your extracted combs carefully – it takes at least 8lbs of honey to make 1lb of wax.
Check your hives after a storm.
Use the long evenings to study, attend lectures, read bee books, make up equipment.
In the New Year remove the matches and insulate the roof.
Keep a good check for lack of stores – only feed fondant.
Start checking your inserts for Varroa drop in Feb.
If the mite drop is large enough per day start treatment at the beginning of March.
Six weeks treatment will take you through to mid-April when the supers go on.
Clean floors mid-March
Examine frames mid-April – that procedure will be explained in another lecture

So may the harvest be greater and the swarms fewer than this year (2007)