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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