Door County Beekeepers Club

Congratulations if you’re a new beekeeper and are enjoying your first hive(s), of if you’re celebrating because your bees overwintered and are back in active mode. There are plenty of pollen sources around now so you can stop any supplemental feeding. For those with new bees, pollen patties should still be in use until Memorial Day. If you have new foundation (undeveloped comb) light syrup feeding should be continued. You will know when to stop when the bees stop feeding – but no later than June 1^st.

Bee activity in your apiary should be significantly increasing by now if your bees have over-wintered. Spring is a critical time for the bees and it is important you check food supplies and supplements if needed. Most spring colony failures occur due to depleted food stores. Supplemental food includes sugar brinks, fondant, and/or pollen patties. Depending on the temperatures, late April is when you should begin providing light syrup feeding in addition to pollen patties.

If you did experience a colony loss, Max Martin is once again selling bees from “Heritage Honeybees”. By now you should have received his email outlining packages, nucs and queens that will be available. Orders were requested by the end of February but understanding that you may not know your total losses yet, he is willing to work with you. Please text or email Max your orders asap. Delivery will be late April or early May.

UPDATE: (April 2) The bees will probably arrive the first weekend in May. Max is able to still take orders if you find your bees have departed from this world.

Happy Spring everyone! By now, you are seeing hive activity and early indications that your colony survived. March is a critical time for the bees and it is important you check food supplies and supplement if needed. Most colony failures occur either in early fall or March/April. Supplemental food includes sugar bricks, fondant, and/or pollen patties.

If you did experience a colony loss, Max Martin is once again taking orders for bees from “Heritage Honeybees”. By now you should have received his email outlining packages, nucs and queens that will be available. Orders were requested by the end of February, but understanding that you may not know your total losses yet, he is willing to work with you. Please text or email Max your orders asap. Delivery will be late April or early May.

NOVEMBER
The Bees. The bees continue to cluster for winter. They may not yet go into a full winter cluster. They may break cluster frequently on warm days and recluster at night. But they will begin to cluster for the winter.

DECEMBER
The Bees. The bees are in a tight cluster. No peeking.
The Beekeeper. There’s nothing you can do with the bees, except clear out the entrance of dead bees. Read a good book on beekeeping, and enjoy the holidays!