Winter is a challenging time for bees, and as a beekeeper, you want to give them the best possible chance to make it through.

One crucial aspect of this preparation is making sure that the hives are tight and not overly spacious.

Removing frames that are not fully covered by bees is key in helping the colony survive through the winter and here’s why:

Why Keeping Hives Tight Matters

When a hive has too much space, the bees struggle to maintain the heat they need to survive.

They often spread throughout the hive and try to use all the available frames, and by doing so they are not able to generate enough heat.

As we all know by now, during winter, bees form a cluster to generate warmth, keeping the queen warm enough to make it through the harsh conditions.

If the hive has empty frames, it creates unnecessary space that the bees have to work harder to heat, which can weaken the colony and potentially lead to their demise.

Remove Unused Frames

A good rule of thumb is to remove any frames that aren’t at least 50% covered by bees.

This helps to reduce the space the bees need to manage and makes it easier for them to stay warm.

Bees are incredibly efficient, but they can only manage the resources within their capabilities.

By reducing the space they need to keep warm, you’re giving them a much better chance at survival and you lower their food consumption tenfold.

How to Tighten Up Your Hives

Inspect Frames: Open the hive and check each frame. If you notice that some frames are barely being used by the bees, it’s best to remove them.

Consolidate Brood and Resources: Arrange the frames so that brood and honey stores are close together, allowing the bees to easily access food without having to move far in the cold.

Add Insulation: Once you’ve reduced the frames, consider adding insulation to the hive to help maintain warmth.