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Author Topic: Horizontal hive dearth and winter prep  (Read 2391 times)

Offline Bob Wilson

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Horizontal hive dearth and winter prep
« on: July 12, 2021, 11:42:06 pm »
I just read the book Top Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder,
I keep horizontal langstroth hives, 4 feet long, each with 32 deep frames. But, even though they use standard, deep langstroth foundationless frames, they are still  horizontal type hives, and the management follows top bar management.
Les Crowder said that towards the end of the honey flow, go ahead and prepare for dearth and winter.
Place a good honey and pollen frame (1) at the entrance, followed by newer built brood combs (about 10) which often have honey at the top, and end with a good honey frame (1). This gives the queen a broodnest of 12 frames, with clean wax, to use in the fall/winter. All drone comb or old comb is moved to the back of the hive. They will get cycled out as any brood hatches. Meanwhile, top bar frames of honey are usually being capped about now, and are ready for harvesting.
Anyone else doing this?

 

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