Beekeeping Basics
February
Many of us have cabin fever during February. As beekeepers we must be patient and let the bees determine our course of action. Honey bees have a definite cycle of development. Figure 1 indicates that bee populations are at their lowest level during the winter season. Population growth increases from that point through mid-summer (June and July), after which it will begin to decline.
All beekeeping activities must be carried out based on a solid know-ledge of this cycle. Many of those fall bees have died or will die soon. Survival of the colony depends on the queen’s ability to lay eggs and a bee population to keep the brood warm. Note that bees are being replaced in late winter with a slight growth in hive populations. There is a definite period of colony growth when plants begin to bloom.
I heard my father talk about balanced hives. Coming out of winter some hives are weak while others are very strong. The goal was to equalize them. The time to start bee inspections usually began in February. At least one could identify weak colonies and feed those in need of food.
We should understand that bee populations are in a rhythm with plants and temperatures. As soon as temperatures allow, bees can be seen at the hive entrance ready to take flight to search for nectar and pollen. During the spring season, honey bees gather nectar and pollen from a number of sources.
As soon as the weather allows, hives should be inspected
Not all hives will have populations equal in size. Variation is to be expected. There are limiting factors for brood production — stored pollen, stored honey, the size of the cluster, and the queen’s ability to lay eggs.
The key to a successful year is to have a plan. It starts in the fall with winter management so that colonies come through the winter successfully. Being an established beekeeper has its advantages. A thriving colony provides a beekeeper with many opportunities to make honey this year. Those that started building comb last year will now provide the beekeeper with new opportunities. This is definitely a step up from last year if you started keeping bees with packages. Perhaps the first thought one has is making splits or gathering swarms. This involves new learning experiences …
