The Apiary Year - January
- January should be cold
- Cold weather means dormant bees.
- We should still check them weekly.
- Are the hives all upright?
- Are bees flying - doing cleansing flights?
- Is there any physical damage to the hives from woodpeckers?
- Has it snowed?
- If it has then any food sources may be covered in snow.
- From the hive it looks bright outside.
- Bees may be tempted to go foraging.
- Discourage this by:
- Shade the entrance to make it darker.
- Do not remove snow from the entrance.
- If the weather is not extremely cold or windy:
- Lift of the lid
- Is there fondant present?
- Add a new block of fondant if needed.
- Sniff inside hole on the crown board.
- Does it smell right or is there a mouse smell?
- If there is a mouse smell then best to remove the mouse.
- Next year remember the mouse guards.
- Put the lid back on and leave it.
- If it is too cold stay home and:
- Order your supplies for the year.
- Many suppliers have sales at this time of year.
- Make up new frames - but do not put the wax in yet.
- Construct a new hive stand.
- They do not last forever
- Easier to replace the stand in the spring when the hive is lighter.
- Make dummy boards.
- Dummy boards cost about £6 each.
- £6 buys a lot of wood.
- A dummy board is the same as a frame but has no wax foundation.
- It is a flat piece of MDF or similar on a hanger.
- Its purpose is to fill in gaps in the hive.
- It prevents heat loss
- It discourage the bees from filling gaps with brace comb.
- Some bee keepers always use a dummy board in the super
- Removing the dummy board gives more space to work.
- Read - there is so much to know about the fascinating world of bees.
- Honeybee Democracy by Thomas D Seeley
- Swarming - its control and prevention by L.E.Snelgrove
- Expect to spend about an hour a month on each hive.
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