How do Honey Bees Survive the Winter?

Many people are curious about how honey bees survive the winter. I explain what bees do to survive and what I do to help improve their chances of survival in my hives.
#beekeeping #beehive #beekeeping101 #layenshive #honeybees #beekeepingforbeginners

I grew up on a farm on the edge of the Nebraska sandhills. A cattle ranch that bears our family name, founded in the late 1800s by my ancestors, is still owned and worked by my cousin. Life events have put me in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area in middle America, where my wife and I have raised our two kids. It's in this environment that I work to make as sustainable a life as I can, converting much of our backyard to grow food, including a garden, fruit trees and bee hives.

I attempt to use natural methods, as much as is possible, in my gardening and beekeeping. I garden organically and continue to learn to work with the soil and the plants, without the use of chemical supplements, herbicides or pesticides, to improve our harvest. Our honey bees are sourced from local colonies through swarms, trap-outs and cut-outs, and are kept, using treatment-free, natural methods, in Layens horizontal hives.

[sandirickert]

Loved the "girls going together" comments LOL!!!

[candy-janes]

I'm in Canada, and I'm more than obsessing about this topic right now.

[bradwamsley]

Another great video, was amazed that we agree on every point you made. Only difference is I use 100% Langstroth hives (insulated). You are a natural educator, keep doing videos - I will be looking forward to watching them.

[dcsblessedbees]

All lessons I am/have learning this 1st Winter.

[oldgreenwichhoney]

Very good review of winter honeybee care!

[dustinpotter]

"Bees in winter' proves bees will raise brood in winter. they don't just "chill" Bees in winter shows bees at below zero F raising brood. I agree wit thick walls ans over head insulation insulation. I intend to go to 1 1/2 sides. Thanks for the info.

[kenthompson]

It helps to tilt the hive in the same direction as the frames run as the condensation will then run to one side of the hive, roughly a two inch tilt..

[sheabutta]

Fascinating! You answered several questions I had. I love the way you painted your boxes, too.👍

[seang]

Wow this is so interesting! Thanks for teaching us.

[curly-hairedcountrygal]

Great video! I didn't know it was called a cleansing flight when they went out in the winter!
So they only use one or two frames during the winter?
Boy I hope I left enough honey on frames for them!
Nice transitions, I liked the fade to black/white

[beebob]

I would have liked you to discuss the moisture issue in winter a bit more.
Moisture will kill the colony. But having someplace for the moisture to go is important. The Layens has a place for moisture to go. Langstroth takes just a small stick for the air to flow.
The solution is easy to the problem.

[kenthompson]

I wrap my hives in clingfilm 4or five times round the hive. It has worked for three years now.

[ericwagoner]

When you winter your bees in the layens hive do you open the other entrance farthest away from the cluster for air circulation?

[joso]

How do this hive do coming out of winter? Did they survive, did your experiment work?

[jomiller]

So informative! I am still trying to decide between the langstroth long or the Layens insulated for my first hives. do you have a recomendation? My Bee source uses langstroth frames so I would be able to easily source those. I am leaning toward the insulated hive since the Texas summers have been a bit much with the La Nina patterns. Any suggestions?

[ranger]

Pretty good overall. Torpor is defined incorrectly. Also the temperatures mentioned in the beginning are wrong. The moisture issue is discussed well.

[thesuzannedale]

In UK. Found a bee after bad weather. Once I dried her out she seems ok but can't fly. 😢
She in a box on top off a heat mat .
Can u HELP PLZ ? She likes me 2 hold her, I guessed it was the heat.

[beebob]

Oh, 3-5 inches of honey won’t do it where I live. Even with an insulated hive they will need more. But a Langstroth hive will need 60 to 70 pounds of food to survive winter.
Where is your varroa management. I know two keepers who use horizontal hives who will lose hives if the varroa are not managed

[el]

I'm in Northern California and I'm blessed with a swarm. Any one with info please I'm a rookie and a sponge