Spring Feeding our Honey Bees. Why?

It's that time of year every beekeeper trudges through the snow on a nice spring day to visit the bee yard and hope for signs of life and indication that there is enough food left in the hive to get them through until the first signs of nectar and pollen are available. We can tell this by lifting the hive and feeling the weight or physically opening the hive on a +10 calm day to investigate.

If the need to feed is evident then the best solution is 1:1 sugar syrup or in cases the weather won't allow the bees to leave the hive a fondant cake placed directly on the top of the frames will help. Honey bees need a lot of fuel in early spring for comb construction and population build-up.

If you are looking to start beekeeping check out the local beekeeper groups in your area. Source them on social media. The support is overwhelming and courses and mentors are readily available.

We all need to work together to keep our bee population intact.

All Hives Matter!

spring feeding fondant cake to hive with low food stores

Spring feeding hive with low food stores with baggies inside the hive to protect from robbing