My Colony Survived! 😃- What Next?

by | Mar 11, 2021 | A Beekeepers' Year, Beginning, How To, Spring

My bees have survived the winter! – Yea! What should I be doing for them now?

If you are a new beekeeper – Congratulation! 🎉 It is common for new beekeepers to lose their overwintered colonies. – Don’t despair. Even experienced beekeepers lose some. It is all part of the learning process. – For next year… What you do this summer and fall will contributed highly to next winter’s success.

Also, Remember, this is One-Beekeeper’s Opinion. There are no magic formulas. Value the opinions of all experienced beekeepers and use common sense. – There are no perfect answers.

What you can do without opening the hive.

  • Watch for activity on warmer afternoons. – Temps in 50’s or above. (Warmer temps make it more likely you will see some activity).
    • Are bees bringing in some pollen? –
      • Yes? Good. Early on there may not be much, but pollen suggests an active queen and brood rearing
      • No? – Don’t despair. There is still a chance they are in there.
        • Worst case scenario – Other bees are robbing out residual honey.
  • If using a screened bottom board, pull out the slide and clean it off
  • Remove entrance-reducer/mouse-guard and use long stick to scrape out any accumulation of dead bees. Mostly you are making sure the lower entrance is open. Don’t have to get them all, healthy bees will take care of the rest, or you can do better on a later inspection.
  • Check your Sugar/Candy Board (If you used one). Peek under the inner cover. (Remember, sugar board goes directly over the frames, inner cover over the sugar-board).
    • Evidence of bees working on the sugar is a Good Sign. 😃
    • If much of the sugar is gone, add some more on a sheet of paper.
    • Not using a sugar-board? – You can pour some granulated sugar on top of the inner cover, around the central opening.
  • Consider adding some pollen-patty.
    • Begin with about 1/2 patty. If they use it, add more
    • Best to lay on top-bars directly over the brood area. – Ok if it gets squished.
    • Consider putting out dry substitute in a rain-protected container. – This will be for all bees in the area.
  • Anticipate feeding 1:1 sugar water soon. Feed inside over the inner cover, using an empty deep to protect the feeding.
    • Remember. Once you begin feeding sugar syrup KEEP IT UP until a strong nectar flow comes on and bees are no longer taking syrup.
    • Also, quit feeding once you add honey supers later on.
  • Consider your first treatment for Varroa Mites.
    • Two good options in early spring are Apivar and Oxalic Acid (OA) Vapor
      • Apivar Strips.
        • Can be inserted very early (February even), while bees mostly in cluster.
          • Apivar works when bees come in contact with the strip. While in cluster bees are milling about and more likely to come in contact.
        • Insert strips directly into cluster, in the brood area.
          • (If Cold and Windy, Do Not pull frames for inspection, simply insert strips into cluster and close up the hive).
        • Remember, Apivar should be on for at least 4-5 weeks, AND removed a week before honey supers are added.
      • Oxalic Acid (OA) Vapor
        • Apply on a day when temps are high enough for bees to have broken cluster. (Why? Vapor needs to come into contact with all bees).
        • Should be applied at least three times with 2-week intervals.

Direct inspection of your survivor bees.

  • To directly examine brood, wait for a warm afternoon, temps above 55 deg, and very light wind.
  • Lay top cover up-side-down near the hive. If needed you will sit box on this while manipulating lower boxes. – Smoke lightly at first, do no over-do the smoke.
  • Begin on an outside frame and Move slowly.
  • Look for a solid brood pattern. — No need to actually see the queen, particularly if you can see eggs and very small larvae
  • Keep brood area frames in exactly the same order.
  • If possible, move brood area to lower box. – If a hassle or bees are feisty this can wait.
  • Make note of any damaged frames that should be replaced. – Leave them in until actually replaced
    • Remember: Bees will drop comb into any area larger than the bee-space.

Other considerations

  • Anticipate need for new equipment, boxes and frames. – Order Now.
  • Remember, you may need to split or house a swarm.
    • Be sure everything is READY WELL AHEAD OF TIME.
    • If needed action must be taken Immediately

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