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Beekeeping Through the Seasons
Over Winter
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Perform Inspection when temps are above 60°F
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Check Honey Stores
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Feed fondant if stores are low
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Check Pollen Stores
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Check empty comb stores for wax moths
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Clean & repair stored equipment for Spring use
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Order bees and queens if necessary
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Test and treat for varroa before honey flow starts
Spring Buildup & Honey Flow
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Check hives for food & brood if temps are above 60 degrees
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Remove screened bottom board inserts and entrance reducers
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Full hive Inspections
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Watch for swarm cells
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Be ready to add more space
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Splits
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Provide a water source
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Extract honey from full, capped supers – put back
Summer Dearth
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Begin reducing hive space to what they’re using
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Watch for food shortages in summer dearth
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Begin reducing hive space
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Mite count (Apivar Type treatments)
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Feed 2:1 sugar syrup ratio if needed
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Provide a water source
Fall Preparations
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Fall Requeening if desired
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Watch for food shortages from summer dearth
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Begin reducing hive space
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Mite count (Apivar type treatments)
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Combine weak hives
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Make sure each hive box has at least 2 solid frames of honey
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Reduce hive space to what they’re using
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Oxalic Acid Treatments