Beekeeper's calendar, what to do in apiary

November

November in Apiary

November

1. 
We sell or exchange melted wax for wax sheets and sell honey.
2. 
We clean the frames and disinfect them in sodium hydroxide or other solutions. It is not advisable to disinfect frames with a blowtorch, as spores of chalkbrood or foulbrood can easily remain in the sealed frame cracks.
3. 
We disinfect, repair, and paint the hives, and make new ones.
4. 
We check if mice have invaded the hives.
5. 
We cover the hive entrances with spruce branches and wind shields. It is also advisable to place spruce branches under the hives. It is very convenient to cover the entrances diagonally with glass. If the glass fogs up normally, it means the bees are wintering well.
6. 
We place the rear plugs when the average air temperature is below zero (e.g., 2°C during the day, -7°C at night).
7. 
Now is the best time to summarize the results of the past bee season (apiary economic indicators, etc.)

December

December bees
December

1. 
Don't forget that December 7th is St. Ambrose's Day, the patron saint of bees. It is advisable to meet with fellow beekeepers on this day and share experiences.
2. 
Summarizing the year's results, we evaluate our mistakes, draw conclusions, and record critical notes in the calendar.
3. 
We occasionally visit the apiary, especially after storms, to check if the wind has knocked over the shields or if anything is disturbing the bees' peaceful wintering.
4. 
We monitor the weather, and during thaws or warm spells, we move the rear plugs to the sides of the nest to prevent the bees from getting too warm and to stop the queen from laying eggs before Christmas or New Year's. When the weather gets colder, we return the plugs to their original positions.
5. 
We continue to process wax, disinfect and make hives, equipment, and frames, acquire missing equipment and literature, and plan next year's work.
6. 
Before Christmas, we visit the poor and sick, bringing them a jar of honey so that they also have honey on their Christmas Eve table.
7. 
We participate in the charity events of the Lithuanian Beekeepers' Association, collecting honey for scientific research, and for nursing homes and orphanages