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Chapter 11

Early spring period

From the video: Practical Beekeeping Part 11

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Transcript
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The first early spring period — replacement of winter bees. It is already the third week of February 2006. After a long, cold winter, here I am arriving at the apiary. According to the program and plan I marked in my work log, I have begun the first early spring tasks, Which is cleaning the bottom boards. The temperature is about 2 degrees Celsius, Which my bottom board allows cleaning even at this temperature. And even at lower temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. Then I activate the protein patty dough on the cover board, Which I made in November of the previous year And placed on the cover board. It is now activated at the end of February after the first cleansing flight, And that flight was this year on February 17th and 18th. In this first period, queens begin with their first eggs and brood. And in this first period of 36 days, The winter bees are mostly replaced by spring-summer bees. In this first period, cleansed colonies remain the same in strength, Because one bee raises one larva, While in a strong colony, one bee raises 1.3 larvae, Which is why a strong colony actually gets stronger by the end of this period. While in weak colonies, one bee raises 0.7 larvae, So weak colonies, By the end of this period, become even weaker or die. That is why weak colonies on 2, 3, or 4 frames should be merged with medium-strong colonies. In this first period, to identify all weak colonies, We must monitor patty consumption in the coming days, Because weak colonies take very little or consume very little patty. On these nice days, we should inspect and merge them with other medium-strong colonies. In this period, all colonies should be well insulated under the roof with good, warm cover boards — as I also do.

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Guide

Early spring period — Replacing winter bees

At the end of winter, following the plan from the work logbook, the first early spring tasks begin — cleaning the bottom boards. With a screened bottom board, cleaning is possible as early as 2 degrees Celsius, and even below zero — without chilling the brood.

Activating the patty

The patty, prepared on the inner cover in November of the previous year, is activated at the end of February — after the first cleansing flight (usually February 17–18). Until that moment, the patty remains dormant as insulation.

Replacing winter bees

In this first period, queens begin laying the first eggs and brood. Over the course of 36 days, the replacement of winter bees with spring-summer bees primarily takes place.

The dynamics of replacement depend on colony strength:

  • Average colonies — remain the same in strength (one bee raises one larva).
  • Strong colonies — grow stronger, because one bee raises 1.3 larvae.
  • Weak colonies (2–4 frames of bees) — weaken further or die, because one bee raises only 0.7 larvae.

That is why it is essential to combine weak colonies with medium-strong ones while there is still time.

Monitoring patty consumption

The best way to identify weak colonies is by monitoring patty consumption — weak colonies take very little or almost none at all. On the first warm days, they should be inspected and combined with stronger ones. All colonies in this period should be well insulated under the roof with warm inner covers.

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← Late autumn and winter

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Intensive spring work →