Insulating the Hives
Just in time, the cold rains arrived at the Bee Yard, and the day before, we insulated the lids and added a protective covering to the outside of the hive box, and fed them one more time. The bees stay active throughout the cold season in Nebraska. They will fly on any day when temps reach 50 Degrees to clean-out their digestive systems. Colder days draw them into their cluster where they warm the hive by shivering. The bees cluster around their queen.
Beekeeping chores lighten-up in October. Our bees were medicated and then fed in September. I may top-off the feeding in October.
Bees take advantage of daytime temperatures above 50 Degrees and fly out of their hives and circle around the premises. Come November, and they are home bound due to a continual chill in the air.