The Monthly Task List for Beginner Keeps

I created this list of things to try and do to help those of you who may not have a mentor. It is derived from experience and study and I hope it helps!

Abbigail Honey BEE ANNUAL TO DO LIST

Canada Growing Zone 5

January - The Bees

• zzzzzzzzzzzzz

• Eating honey

• Shivering for heat

• Clustered

• Cleansing flights if it is warm enough

December and January - The BeeKeeper

• Building Hives, taking courses, keeping the faith,

• Order for next year Nuc and or packages

• Check hive weight on warm days

• Sneak fondant patty in on top of inner cover without blocking vent hole

February - the Bees

• Honey consumption spikes as thermogenesis is turned up for the February cold

• Egg laying may start

February - the BeeKeeper

• Top Up fondant patty for light hives

• Start buying spring supplies

• Check weight of hive end month

March - The Bees

• Honey consumption increases

• Bees are getting ready to fly and clean house

• Egg production ramps up

• Start receiving and caring for newly laid eggs

• House cleaning on warm days

March - The BeeKeeper

• Order new Queens

• Starvation risk is high

• Quick peak under outer cover

• Feed 2:1 sugar syrup when consistently above 10Cn for light hives

• Add pollen patties mid-end month

• Unwrap end of the month

• First inspection time weather dependant

• Clean off bottom board

• Supplemental feeding

• Start looking for Nosema

• Early treat for mites with oxalic acid vapour weather permitting

• Check weight of hive end month

April - The Bees

• Cleansing flights

• Egg production in full swing

• Pollen gathering starts

• Drones start to appear

April - The BeeKeeper

• First serious inspection

• Throw out your dead – clean up the bottom board

• Top up pollen patty

• Definitely treat for mites – Mite away strips or oxalic acid vapor

• Move honey stores from dead-outs and save for splits and swarms

• If you discover a dead mouse in the hive, remove and clean up

• Check weight of hive end month

May - The Bees

• Nectar collection in has started

• Swarm season ramps up

• Pollen should have started coming in

• Are the drones increasing in population? - SWARM

May - The BeeKeeper

• Its SWARM season for over-wintered hives

• Install package bees

• Practice solid space management in hive

• Start making early splits end of month

• Inspect based on 16 day queen cycle during swarm season

• Check weight of hive end month

June - The Bees

• Egg production may drop

• Swarm season in full swing up to about mid-month

June - The BeeKeeper

• Making splits

• New queens should be available on the market

• Inspect 10-14 day interval, sooner if required

• Look for eggs in new package bee hives

• Check weight of hive end month

July - The Bees

• Mostly the same as June

July - The BeeKeeper

• No more splits after 15th unless you have a sourced queen and time to feed the colony

• Honey harvest can begin remembering you need to be at 75-100 pounds of winter honey by end October with a two deep setup

August - The Bees

• No more splits after 15th unless you have a sourced queen and time to feed the colony

• Honey harvest can begin remembering you need 60 lbs in the fall for a two brood box hive

• Population starts to drop

August - The BeeKeeper

• Harvest, monitor population,

• Start thinking about fall

• Inspect less frequently so heat and inspections do not make bees cranky

• Ensure water supply is available

• Check weight of hive end month

September - The Bees

• Winter preparations now full on

• Drones start to drop

• Egg laying slows down

September - The BeeKeeper

• Treat for Mites

• Mouse guards if the temperature is cool

• If not already purchased, source out winter pine for hive construction

• Check weight of hive end month

October - The Bees

• Getting ready to cluster

• Moving honey around the hive

October - The BeeKeeper

• Mouse guard in place

• Start thinking winterizing and moving colonies

• Treat for mites

• Feed 2:1 sugar syrup with fumagillin B or Hive Alive

• Consider winterizing based on weather

• Check weight of hive end month

November - The Bees

• Last of the drones are gone

• Most winter bees are in place

• Clustering at night and cold days

• Converting sugar syrup to stores

November - The BeeKeeper

• Start winterizing, reducing entrances

• Move hives that need to be moved

• Finish wrapping by mid month.

• Check weight of hive end month

December - The Bees

• Clustered

• Check weight of hive end monthht of hive end month