Seasonal hive management is important for beekeeping
- In spring, overwintered hives should be fed syrup after temperatures rise and brightly colored pollen is brought back
- Overwintered hives should be condensed or reversed to avoid starvation and provide space for the bees to grow
- Brand new hives in spring should be fed continuously until the brood nest is built or nectar starts flowing
- Mite infestations can still be high in newly formed colonies, so be mindful and check regularly
- In summer, add honey space as necessary and keep the brood area free of honey
- Bees move honey around readily, so don't worry if you see some nectar on a brood frame
- Regular alcohol might washes should be performed to prevent mite infestations from getting out of control.
The video discusses seasonal hive management for beekeepers and provides some key things to keep in mind for each season. In spring, beekeepers should start feeding syrup to overwintered hives as soon as temperatures start to rise and bees start flying during the middle of the day. The bees will start bringing back brightly colored pollen, but this does not mean they have enough food to sustain the colony.
Beekeepers should also condense or reverse the hive if it's a double or taller to allow the colony to have enough space to grow. For brand new hives, beekeepers should focus on feeding the bees until the nectar starts flowing or until the brood nest is entirely built out. In summer, beekeepers should add honey space as necessary and keep the brood area largely free of honey. They should also be mindful of mite infestations and check and perform an alcohol might wash every month to prevent mites from getting out of control.