Bee Chronicles

January 2018

Christmas has passed. The most snow in December since the 1970’s. Sounds so long ago, even prehistoric to a 30 year old.

I have not had a chance to inspect my bees. Most of the hives still have bees coming and going. It is 27 Dec. and the nights are in the low 20’s with the days barely getting top 50’s. The yellow jackets are flying but the honey bees are just taking purging flights and getting back inside.

I am keeping field feeders out as back up. They are located close to the apiary so the bees can purge and take some nectar home.

The snow was 11” and wet. It stayed on my apiary for 7 days. The only thing I did was clean it off the landing board so the air could enter the hive. With screen bottoms that is not a concern. I think it is not a critical chore because the lids provide “ventilation”. Probably enough air for a tight cluster. But, without circulation you could have moisture build up in the hive.

Heavy sleet could also block the entrances.

Be prepared for a weird spring. Before the snow I saw a forsythia bush trying to bloom in Blairsville. My hyacinths and some jonquils are 2” tall. The snow and freezing won’ hurt them. They will slow down growing. The concern is they are supposed to be a late February flower.

This is a watching and be prepared period. Watching the bees and temperature. Being prepared if it gets warm and stays warm.

I will inspect my bees thoroughly when I have a 55 degree afternoon with no breeze. Who is alive, who has food stores, is there honey and pollen, do I need to provide pollen patties for brooding queens?

When I have 4 days (not necessarily consecutive) days a week above 55 degrees I will start syrup feeding all the hives to simulate a nectar flow (1:1). When I see queens start to lay I will add pollen patties to the hive to simulate a pollen flow. I want my queens to wake up and go to work as early as possible. This will give me bigger colonies in April so I can split some. I like to make 8 frame splits.