A YEAR IN THE
APIARY

As spring begins to fully take hold, the activities in the apiary begin to increase. April is a critical month as it marks the start of the nectar flow season, which is essential for the bees' survival throughout the year. The warmer temperatures and longer days mean that the bees become more active, and it's important to ensure the hives are prepared for the busy season ahead. keep a close eye on the colonies, checking for signs of swarming, and continuing to monitor the hive's health. You need to ensure that the hive is clean and free of debris that may have accumulated during the winter months. You should also replace any damaged or old combs and frames to ensure the colony has sufficient space to grow. Finally, take steps to encourage the bees to collect nectar and pollen, such as planting flowers and providing sugar syrup as a supplemental food source. By taking these steps in April, you can ensure the hives are healthy and prepared for the busy season ahead.

 

​Inspect hives: April is a key month for inspecting your hives when temperatures are above 15 degrees celcius. With the warmer weather, the queen will start to lay more eggs, and you will want to ensure that the brood chamber is healthy and that the colony has enough space to expand. If the temperature permits, shake off the bees and inspect each frame for signs of disease or pests and add additional boxes or frames as needed. Inspect every 7-9 days to monitor for disease, check for signs of swarming, assess the Queen's status, evaluate brood patterns, and review food stores. This timeframe is crucial, as it takes about 9 days for bees to produce and cap a Queen cell and make the decision to swarm. Now is also a good time to replace those old dark frames. If you get the opportunity, mark the queen as she will be much easier to spot.

 

​Feeding: In case your hives are lacking honey stores, April is an ideal time to provide them with light sugar syrup as a food source. The feeding of light sugar syrup stimulates the bees to feed the queen more, thereby increasing the rate of egg-laying. Additionally, it aids in enhancing the bees' strength and preparing them for the approaching nectar flow.

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Swarm control: With the warmer weather and the increase in brood production, colonies may become overcrowded and the risk of swarming increases. You can prevent this by performing an artificial swarm. This is a beekeeping technique used to manage or prevent swarming in a bee colony. Swarming is a natural process where a portion of the colony, along with the old queen, leaves the hive to establish a new colony elsewhere. This can reduce the productivity of the original hive and lead to the loss of bees. To create an artificial swarm, you need to simulates the conditions that would naturally cause a swarm, but in a controlled manner. The typical process involves:

Identifying Swarming Signs: Check the hive for signs that the bees are preparing to swarm, such as the presence of queen cells.

Splitting the Colony: The colony is split into two. The original queen and some worker bees are moved to a new hive or nucleus box, mimicking the natural process of swarming.

Managing the Original Hive: The original hive is left with some brood and the queen cells. The bees in the original hive will then raise a new queen from the queen cells.

Balancing Resources: Ensure that both the original hive and the new hive (artificial swarm) have enough bees, brood, and stores to thrive.

This method helps control swarming behaviour while maintaining the population and productivity of the bees in both the original and new colonies. It’s a way to prevent the loss of bees and maintain honey production.

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Alternatively, you can use swarm traps to catch swarms if they leave the hive or use swarm traps if you are considering expanding your colony.

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​Queen rearing: If you are interested in rearing your own queens, April is a good time to start. You can graft larvae from a strong colony into queen cups or use a queen-less colony to create a queen cell builder.

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Practice Good Apiary Hygiene: Maintaining good apiary hygiene is crucial for the health of your bees. Regularly clean and disinfect your equipment, remove any debris from the hive, and be mindful of spreading diseases between colonies. Practicing good hygiene reduces the risk of disease transmission and keeps your bees strong and healthy. For detailed guidance, consider reading up on "Bee Hygiene."

Undertake Varroa Counts: Monitoring the Varroa mite levels in your colony is essential to ensure your bees are not overwhelmed by these harmful parasites. Regular varroa counts allow you to assess the mite population and determine if intervention is necessary. Keeping track of varroa levels helps in timely and effective management of this common bee pest.

Use MAQ Strips if Required for Varroa Management: If your varroa counts indicate a high level of infestation, using MAQS (Mite Away Quick Strips) can be an effective treatment. These strips release formic acid, which helps control the varroa population in the hive. It’s important to follow the instructions carefully to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

Super-up: As your colony grows and the bees begin to cover seven of the ten frames in the hive, it’s time to add a super. This extra space allows the bees to store more honey and helps prevent overcrowding, which can lead to swarming. Adding a super at the right time supports the health and productivity of the colony.

Remove Supers for Extraction as Required: When your supers are full, it’s time to remove them for honey extraction. This is especially important if your bees are foraging on oilseed rape, as the honey from this crop can crystallize quickly, making extraction more difficult. Timely removal and extraction ensure you get the most out of your honey harvest.

Unite Weak Colonies Where Necessary: Weak colonies are often vulnerable to disease, pests, and poor weather conditions. To strengthen these colonies, consider uniting them with a stronger colony. This process involves carefully combining the two colonies, which can help boost their overall health and productivity. Uniting weak colonies can prevent losses and create a more robust hive.

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​​​​​​Maintain records: Keep accurate records of the hives' health and activity throughout the year. This will help you make informed decisions about the health of your colony and any changes that may need to be made.

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Attend educational events: Attend beekeeping events, such as seminars or conferences, to learn about new techniques and best practices.