BEEKEEPING
From page 17 bees will have solidly packed honey around this much reduced breeding area as an insulation against the penetrating cold air of the winter . The size of the entrance to the hive will have been reduced and all other leaky cracks and holes will have been sealed up with propolis to keep out winter draughts . It is most important that the hives must not be opened during the winter thus breaking down this sealing so laboriously performed by the bees . On strong hives , the beekeeper will have removed the cold metal queen excluder between the brood chamber and supers that draws the cold into the hive and on medium and weaker hives he will have removed the super to reduce the volume of air in the hive to be warmed by the bees . In this way the bees consume less honey stores to keep warm and the stores last much longer and well through the winter months . Windbreaks that ward off that cold south wind help to create a greater extended protection for the bees , and it is for this reason that hives in our hemisphere should always be placed on the north or northeast sides of woodlots . All dry grass and weeds that can burn easily will have been cleared away from the hives , which themselves are highly flammable . Heat about the hives causes the wax to melt and dribble out of the hive and ignite , which then ignites the hive , and all that is left is the metal lid and four small heaps of nails from the corners of the burnt out brood boxes . Avoid standing hives on old tyres , that also burn very easily . For the beekeeper this is a good time to renovate and clean out all those empty hives from which bees had either died out or absconded . Wax moth will no doubt be about in some of the hives . The juicy little worms make good protein for one ' s egg laying hens . Now is a good time to service the honey house equipment , repair tears in one ' s gloves and overall , clean and renovate the smoker and service one ' s workhorse bakkie , because in all too short a time spring and a new season ' s work will be upon the bees and their master . Article by Peter Clark at 011 362-2904 , author of Tales of an African Beekeeper and chairman for 2016 of Eastern Highveld Beekeeper ' s Association , assisted by the secretary Mike Alter at 011 965-6040 .
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