As with all things, it’s important to plan your work and work your plan. At the Cook-DuPage Beekeeper’s Association, one of the highlights of the meetings is reviewing the list of activities that should be scheduled for completion during the month. The list sparks additions, debates and some lively conversation on different ways of managing your honey bees.
February
February brings the hint of spring, with the reality of winter. During warmer years, the first maple and willow pollen may appear. The queen has been laying eggs and the hive is building brood, using up the stored honey supplies quicker to keep the brood warm.
In our area it is time to:
Order your packages and queens for the upcoming season, replacing winter loss and/or expanding your beekeeping operation.
- Monitor the colonies food stores. The weight of the hive will provide some ideas on how much food is available inside. Feed those colonies low on stores with sugar, fondant, or place a candy board on the hive to help the bees through the remains of winter.
- Check for activity in the hive (look to see if the bees are taking cleansing flights during the warmer days, or listen to the hive to see if there’s a buzz going on inside). Remember a grouping of dead bees on the outside is a good sign that there is life on the inside. If you do lose a hive see what may have caused their demise.
- Feed pollen cakes and patties to help build up the food stores and keep the hive strong.
- Help the bees with their housekeeping by clearing the dead bees on the bottom board out with a coat hanger or some other device (be sure to put the entrance reduce back on, you don’t want any mice getting in at this point).