It is Bee Buzz time again, and in this Q&A session I answer listener questions on winter prep, feeding, and hive management. We talk about whether to reduce colonies from two brood boxes to one, how to handle screened bottom boards, what to know about moisture boards, and when to stop feeding syrup. I also cover queen excluders in winter, protecting against mice, and why upper entrances may cause more problems than they solve.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Best times and methods for moving a hive stand without stressing bees
• What moisture boards do and whether they are worth using
• When and why to reduce from double deeps to a single brood box
• The truth about queen excluders in winter setups
• Entrance reducers, mouse guards, and facing hives away from cold winds
• Screened bottom boards and whether to close them for cold weather
• How much honey a colony needs by region and climate
• Feeding decisions: syrup, sugar bricks, fondant, and candy boards

Why Listen to This Episode?

Winter prep is full of conflicting advice. This episode cuts through the noise with straightforward answers to common questions so you can focus on keeping your bees alive and strong until spring.

More Info:

🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.

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