Newbattle Beekeepers Association

The Beekeeping Year - February

By February colonies should be showing signs of activity. Queens should be laying patches of eggs in the warmth of the cluster and workers will be taking cleansing flights and bringing in pollen on mild days from snowdrops, crocuses and winter heaths.

Insert Varroa Boards Under Open-Mesh Floors

This will assist brood rearing by reducing heat loss

Assemble any New Hives and Frames

Repair Spare Equipment Damaged During the Previous Season

Check Stores / Emergency Feeding -

As the days lengthen colonies will start to build up. The cluster temperature will start to increase. Starvation is a risk. Heft the hive on a regular basis. Feed fondant if needed.

Check Hive Entrances -

Clear predator damage. The build up of dead bees during the winter can cause the entrance to be blocked. The same can happen after a snow fall.

On mild days the bees should be flying -

How are they looking? Are there any signs of disease? If the hive is inactive it may have died-out over the winter.

Close-up Dead Colony Hives

Try to establish the cause and close-up the hive to prevent robber bees gaining access to any remaining stores which may be harbouring some infection