Fall in the Bee Yard (September-November)

Winter Preparation → Cluster Formation → Dormant Stability

 

Primary Fall Goals

  • Establish winter readiness
  • Secure adequate food stores
  • Produce high-quality winter bees
  • Reduce mite loads to survivable thresholds
  • Stabilize cluster size
  • Control moisture

 

Major Fall Risks

  • Insufficient winter stores
  • Poor winter bee quality from mite damage
  • Weak cluster size
  • Incomplete feeding before freeze
  • Moisture accumulation
  • Mouse intrusion
  • Entrance blockage
  • Wind exposure

Fall To-Do

  • Combine weak colonies
  • Achieve full winter stores (70–90 lbs target)
  • Finish varroa treatments and confirm levels
  • Install mouse guards
  • Add insulation and moisture control
  • Remove excess equipment
  • Ensure cluster positioning under honey
  • Protect from wind

Seasonal Theme: Reorganization → Consolidation → Conservation
Overall Objective: Prepare colonies physiologically and structurally for winter survival by securing food stores, minimizing mite pressure, and stabilizing the cluster.

Weather Trends

  • September: 44–76°F; 0.7" rain
  • October: 35–59°F; 1.2" rain; light snow possible
  • November: 29–43°F; 1.9" rain; 1.1" snow
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September - Active Reorganization

Bee Mood & Activity

  • Defensive but more stable than August
  • Strong guarding behavior
  • Drones evicted
  • Reduced flights
  • Consolidating stores

Brood Development

  • Brood declining
  • Final winter bees emerging
  • 7–10 frames of bees

Inspections/Equipment Management:

  • Minimal- shift from management to verification
  • finish mite verification
  • Reduce entrances when below 45°F
  • Install mouse guards before first hard frost
  • Combine weak colonies

Food Management:

  • Minimal foraging
  • Feed 2:1 sugar syrup to reach winter weight
  • Target 70–90 lbs (8-frame double deep)
  • Stop liquid feeding at freezing temperatures
  • Do not feed protein (brood tapering)

Pest & Disease Management

  • Complete mite treatments
  • Retest mite levels
  • Robbing persists
  • Mouse intrusion risk

 

October - Brood Shrinking

Bee Mood & Activity

  • Movement slowing
  • Tighter clusters forming
  • Energy conserving
  • Minimal foraging
  • Calm but defensive if opened

Brood Development

  • Minimal brood
  • Drones gone
  • 6–8 frames of bees

Inspection/Equipment Management

  • Final brood check
  • minimal disturbance
  • Remove empty boxes
  • Install insulation/quilt boxes
  • Add moisture control and ventilation
  • Ensure cluster is positioned under honey
  • Final weight check

Food Management

  • Feed 2:1 syrup only if underweight and nights permit
  • Stop liquid feeding once freezing begins
  • Emergency dry sugar only if needed

Pest & Disease Management

  • Residual mite damage to winter bees
  • Varroa reproduction slowing
  • Consider oxalic acid if brood minimal

November - Full Winter Cluster

Bee Mood & Activity

  • Metabolic conservation
  • No foraging
  • Cluster repositioning over stores
  • Quiet unless disturbed

Brood Development

  • Broodless
  • Varroa primarily phoretic
  • 5–7 frames

Inspection/Equipment Management

  • External checks only
  • Clear entrances
  • Maintain mouse guards
  • Protect from wind
  • Heft hive periodically
  • Quick external checks only

Food Management

  • No feeding unless emergency
  • Dry sugar over cluster if light
  • Avoid stimulating brood

Pest & Disease Management

  • Varroa mostly phoretic (ideal oxalic vapor timing)
  • Mouse intrusion
  • Predator disturbance

Major Fall Forage in Eastern Washington

September

  • Aster – nectar & pollen
  • Goldenrod – nectar & pollen

 

October

  • Residual blooms only

November

  • None