It’s February and spring temperatures are weeks if not days away. I remember my first year of beekeeping when my hive swarmed on March 17th. That meant that the bees had started swarm preparations at the end of February. I was totally unprepared and there was nothing I could do as I watched the bees settle high up in a pine tree.
Do you know what the signs of swarming are? Educate yourself and be ready to open your hives as soon as it is warm enough. If the bees are in the top box, reverse the hive bodies and give them more room. This will buy you some time. Make sure you have extra equipment for splits and any swarms that may occur. Be ready to catch a swarm, a large bucket attached to a long pole makes swarm catching easier.
The return of spring means it’s time to start thinking about increases. Every year, your surviving hives will need to be split or they will swarm. If you don’t know how to make a split, please ask an experienced beekeeper or do some research. There are as many ways to make splits as there are beekeepers (just kidding) so find one that will work for you. Happy Beekeeping!
Pura Vida life - relax and enjoy!
Amy Hustead
