Beekeeping Calendar

In this period the colony's population is at a turning point: the number that fell through winter begins to rise again. But this transition is fragile — if it goes wrong the colony dwindles in this period.

The Queen Lays Again

When the day begins to lengthen and the first pollen arrives, the queen begins to lay again. This is the first biological sign that winter is ending. At first slow — a small brood area — but it grows steadily. This first brood area is the seed of the colony's spring strength.

The Race Between the Winter Bee and the First Spring Bee

This is the most critical biological fact of the period. The winter bees that carried the colony through are now ageing — coming to the end of their lives. For the colony to stay alive, new spring bees must be born before these old winter bees die. This is a race: the new generation must mature as the old one is exhausted. If the new generation is late, the colony dwindles — the population falls below the critical threshold, the cluster cannot warm itself, the colony dies.

Pollen: The Fuel of the New Generation

The maturing of the first spring bees depends on pollen — the raw material of brood-rearing is pollen. In this period the colony either uses the pollen band it stored when entering winter, or gathers fresh pollen from the first early flowers (willow, hazel). A colony without pollen cannot rear brood, the new generation does not come, and it loses the race. This is why pollen is vital in this period.

Watching the Population Erosion

In this period the population may keep falling for a while (while the old winter bees die and the new bees have not yet matured). This is the low point. A healthy colony passes this low point and turns upward. A continuous weakening of the flight traffic may be a sign that the colony is losing the race.

Queen Check

Whether the queen survived the winter is understood only from pollen-laden bees and (if quickly checked on a mild day) the presence of brood. A colony that comes out queenless cannot be saved in this period — there are no conditions (drones, weather) to raise a new queen. A queenless colony can be salvaged by combining it with a strong colony.

In this period inspection is still largely done from outside, but there is one vital exception: the weight check. Opening the hive is kept to a minimum, because the weather is still cold and open brood chills.

The Principle: Know but Do Not Open

It seems contradictory but this is the essence of the period: the colony's state must be known (is it waking, hungry, is there a queen) but opening the hive is still risky. The solution is external reading + a quick weight check when needed.

External Inspection

• Flight on a mild day: intense cleansing flight = healthy colony.
• Pollen-laden bees: = there is brood inside, the queen is laying.
• In front of the entrance: amount of dead bees, faecal spotting (a nosema sign).
• Scale: accelerating fall = consumption has risen, starvation risk approaching.

The Critical Internal Check: Weight

The only legitimate physical intervention in this period is the weight check and, if needed, emergency feeding. The hive is lifted from the back to feel the weight; if it is light, the hive is opened quickly and solid feed (fondant) is placed above the cluster. This is done within seconds, without chilling the cluster. A long inspection kills the open brood.

The Timing of the First Detailed Inspection

The first true, detailed hive inspection — looking at the brood area, seeing the queen, assessing stores — must wait until the weather warms permanently (generally above 14-15°C, sunny, midday). This condition may arise towards the end of this period. A detailed inspection done early does more harm than good.

Detecting a Dead Colony

In this period it becomes clear that some colonies have not survived the winter. If a dead colony is detected, its cause should be investigated (starvation, damp, varroa, nosema) — this is a lesson for next year. The dead hive should be closed at once and protected from robbing, its combs evaluated or placed under moth/disease control.

This is the period in which feeding saves lives. Spring starvation is a real threat, and feeding done at the right time can be the only difference between the colony and death. But the form of feeding is tightly bound to the weather.

Spring Starvation: Why in This Period

The mechanism is cruelly simple: brood production begins → consumption suddenly rises → but stores have already fallen through winter → and there is not yet a serious source outside. When these three factors intersect the colony can die of starvation a few weeks short of spring. Having survived the winter means nothing; if it goes hungry in this period, it dies.

If the Weather Is Cold: Solid Feeding

While persistent cold continues, liquid syrup is not given (the colony cannot process it, it creates damp). Instead, solid feeding:

• Fondant / sugar dough / candy: placed directly above the cluster. In winter the bee moves only upward; it cannot reach feed placed far away.
• This is an emergency starvation intervention and is done quickly.

If the Weather Begins to Warm: Stimulative Liquid Feeding

Towards the end of the period, when mild days become frequent and the colony becomes active, stimulative feeding (1:1 dilute syrup) can come into play. Its aim is twofold: both to prevent starvation, and to speed up spring development by encouraging the queen to lay. Dilute syrup imitates a natural nectar flow and gives the signal "spring has come, grow".

The Subtlety of Stimulative Feeding

Stimulative feeding is a powerful tool but must be used carefully: if started too early or too aggressively, the colony may produce excess brood while the weather is still cold and become unable to warm/feed it. The ideal is to start in synchrony with nature's first real sources.

Pollen / Protein: Critical

In this period protein may matter even more than syrup. The maturing of the new spring bees depends on pollen. If natural pollen (willow, hazel, snowdrop) is still weak and the colony's pollen store is exhausted, a protein patty can rescue the new generation. Still, natural pollen is always the priority, and where possible the apiary is placed near a pollen source.

Water

A waking, brood-rearing colony needs water (for brood food and to dissolve crystallised honey). On the first mild days the bee goes out to look for water. A near, sunny (not cold) water source helps the colony in this period — a bee that goes to cold water may chill and not return.

This is the period in which the balance of the winter pests is seen and spring diseases such as nosema may appear. Varroa is in the background for now but prepares to reproduce again with the new brood.

Nosema: The Insidious Threat of Spring

This is one of the highest-risk periods for nosema. Old winter bees, stressed and unable to void their gut through winter, are vulnerable to nosema. Signs:

• Brown faecal spots on the hive front wall and entrance (dysentery).
• Bees unable to fly, crawling.
• A weakening colony that fails to develop.

Nosema undermines the colony's spring development and, if untreated, dwindles it. The best prevention: a dry, ventilated hive, clean winter stores (not honeydew), the opportunity for a cleansing flight at the first chance (a sunny location). In severe cases hive/comb renewal and treatment on veterinary advice may be needed.

Varroa: A Quiet Restart

When brood production begins again, varroa also begins to reproduce again. For now the mite count is low (hopefully treated in the broodless period), but the reproduction cycle is re-established with the new brood. Treatment is usually not done in this period (cold weather, weak colony), but the mite situation is monitored — especially if the broodless-period treatment was missed.

Analysing the Winter Loss

The colonies that die in this period give the most valuable lesson for the following year. When a dead colony is opened the cause can usually be read:

• Full of honey but dead, small cluster: not starvation — the cluster could not reach the stores, or stayed too small (population inadequate).
• Empty, stores exhausted: starvation — inadequate winter stores.
• Faecal spotting, bad smell: nosema or damp.
• Many varroa, deformed-winged dead bees: varroa/virus collapse.

This analysis guides next year's preparation.

Mouse Damage

If a mouse got in over winter, its damage is seen in this period: wrecked combs, a nest, droppings. Whether the mouse guard worked is understood here. A damaged colony should be supported and the combs replaced.

This is the period in which nature offers its first crumbs. There is no serious flow, but the pollen given by the first early flowers is a critical signal and fuel for the colony's awakening.

First Pollen: The Trigger of Awakening

The most important source of this period is pollen, not nectar. Fresh pollen from the first early flowers gives the colony the signal "spring is beginning" and triggers the queen's laying and brood-rearing. Without this first pollen (or without a winter pollen store) the colony delays its awakening or cannot rear the new generation.

The Early Sources of This Period

• Snowdrop and crocus: the earliest flowers; pollen and a little nectar.
• Hazel: wind-pollinated but an early and valuable pollen source for the bee.
• Willow: early, abundant pollen and some nectar — the classic source of the spring awakening.
• Cornelian cherry, plum, almond: may flower in this period in temperate regions.
• Dandelion (first): early individuals in temperate regions.

These sources shift by weeks according to region and year; the beekeeper must know the first flowering of their own region.

The Fragility of the Source

The source of this period is fragile: one mild day opens the flower, and the cold that follows stops both the flower and the bee's flight. So the first source is there but unreliable. The colony cannot rely on it fully; its internal stores (honey + pollen store) are still the main support.

The Role of the Pollen Store

A colony that entered winter with an adequate pollen store rears brood with this store until external pollen arrives. If the store is exhausted and external pollen is still weak, the new generation cannot mature. This is why in this period the beekeeper watches both the external pollen flow (pollen-laden bees) and the colony's state; if needed, they bridge with a protein patty.

Nectar: Not Yet

There is no serious nectar flow yet in this period. The little nectar from the early flowers is at a maintenance level — it feeds the colony but does not let it build stores. So in this period the colony clearly consumes stores rather than producing; a fall in weight is normal, and the starvation risk comes from here.

This is definitely not a harvest period. On the contrary, it is the period in which the colony is most fragile and most in need of support. The "production" dimension consists entirely of preparation for the next season.

No Harvest — the Opposite

In this period nothing is taken from the hive; on the contrary, it is given (feeding if needed). The remaining stores are the colony's only security against spring starvation. Even the thought of harvest is wrong in this period — the colony is barely maintaining itself.

Comb Preparation: For the Next Season

This period is suitable for preparing the combs for the next season. The empty combs stored over winter are checked, cleaned and sorted. In the spring explosion colonies will expand fast and need drawn comb; this stock is prepared now. Old, dark combs are sorted out and melted (so they are not disease stores).

Beeswax and Foundation

The beeswax collected over winter can be turned into foundation in this period, or prepared to be. When spring comes colonies will draw comb; an adequate stock of foundation supports spring development.

Queen Rearing Plan

Queen rearing cannot yet be done in this period (no drones and no weather), but the plan is made. From which breeder stock, when, how many queens; if queens are to be ordered, placing the order — these are settled in this period. When spring development begins, queen rearing will come into play quickly.

Evaluating the Resources of Dead Colonies

The hives, combs and stores of colonies that did not survive winter are evaluated. The honey and comb of a colony that died healthily (starvation/damp) become a resource for sound colonies or spring splits. The material of a colony that died of disease (especially with a suspicion of nosema or American foulbrood), however, is handled carefully — if necessary it is destroyed to avoid spreading disease.

This is the period in which spring-season equipment is given its final preparation and emergency feeding equipment is kept ready. The spring explosion is approaching; being caught unprepared means missing the start of the season.

Emergency Feeding Equipment — Kept Ready

Spring starvation can threaten a colony at any moment; the intervention equipment must be ready:

• Solid feed (fondant, cake, candy): ready, in a form that can be placed quickly above the cluster.
• In-hive feeders: clean and leak-proof for liquid feeding once the weather warms.
• Protein patty: ready against pollen scarcity.

Spring Expansion Equipment

The colonies will soon grow fast; expansion equipment is prepared:

• Drawn comb and foundation: to be added as the colony expands.
• Extra box/super: ready for spring development.
• New hives: for spring splits.

Preparing Inspection Equipment

Detailed inspections will soon begin; the basic equipment is reviewed: does the smoker work and is its fuel ready, is the veil clean, is the hive tool sound, are the queen-marking pen and cage ready. Equipment repaired/renewed over winter must be ready for use in this period.

Reviewing Ventilation and Insulation

As the weather warms the winter insulation and excess reduction will be gradually loosened — but not yet. In this period it is checked that the insulation is still in place and dry, and that ventilation (for rising brood moisture) is adequate. Removing insulation too early can strike the colony in an incoming cold snap.

The Scale: The Critical Tool of This Period

The best way to detect spring starvation early is the hive scale. An accelerating fall in the scale shows that brood production has begun and stores are melting — an early warning for the feeding decision. In this period the scale can save a colony from starvation.

In this period the apiary is prepared for coming out of winter. Winter damage is repaired, conditions for spring development are improved, but protection against harsh weather is not yet loosened.

Winter Sun and the Cleansing Flight

In this period the hive catching the sun is vital. On mild, sunny days the bee takes a cleansing flight — this is essential to void the faeces accumulated through winter and prevents nosema. The hive location should catch the winter sun and the front of the entrance should be clear so the bee can go out at the first opportunity. A hive with no sun, left in shade, delays the cleansing flight and raises the disease risk.

Maintaining Wind Protection

Even though the weather begins to warm, hard cold can still come. Wind protection (screen, location) is not yet removed in this period. A waking, brood-rearing colony is more defenceless against a sudden cold than a wintering colony — it must warm the brood. Wind multiplies this burden.

Reopening the Water Source

A waking colony needs water. The water source closed/frozen over winter is reopened on the first mild days. The water should be sunny and near — a bee that goes to cold water may chill and not return. Near water prevents the bee from flying long distances in the cold.

Ground and Drainage

Snowmelt and spring rains wet the ground. Water must not pool under the hive; drainage is checked. Hives that shifted/tilted with the melt are straightened. Damp ground raises both hive humidity and disease risk.

Beginning Site Cleaning

The dead weeds, branches and snow damage accumulated over winter begin to be cleaned in this period. The front of the entrance and the hive surroundings are kept clear. But heavy site work (mowing, etc.) waits for spring to arrive.

Removing Dead Hives

Hives that did not survive winter are taken from the apiary — a dead hive left open is an invitation to robbing and disease spread. The dead hive is closed and removed for evaluation; its spot is cleaned.