What kind of Hive maintenance will be required?
In the DW 6 and DW 8 and DW10, under normal circumstances, once bees are installed in your Hive Case, they will need little or no maintenance that will require the Hive Case to be taken outdoors and opened. The SW 4 and SW5 may require outdoor servicing in the spring or fall. In cold climates, for all Hive Cases, if syrup feeding is needed the “hive top feeding station” makes easy work of this task without removing the Hive Case to the outdoors. A colony may require outdoor maintenance by you or an experienced beekeeper when; You wish to harvest surplus honey. A severe or extended winter has reduced colony strength. An abnormal dearth of bloom during the summer season has caused a shortage in honey and pollen stores. It should be noted that circumstances such as; misuse of toxic landscape chemicals; severe weather or untreated bee diseases can destroy a colony and replacement bees will be required.
