By: Ann Harman
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of BEEKeeping Your First Three Years
Goal: all comb drawn by end of June and colony numbers increasing.
If your colony was started from a package of bees, do not plan on a honey harvest this year. If started from a nuc (nucleus colony) you could harvest honey if you have a late honey flow.
Inspect hives when weather permits.
• Inspect hives when weather permits: warm sun, low wind, temperature above 60°F
• Keep inspection time as short as possible
• Lightly mist foundation (Langstroth hive) with 1:1 sugar syrup with Honey-B-Healthy to stimulate drawing comb
• Move follower board (top bar hives) to keep up with comb construction
• Add next brood chamber (Langstroth hive) only when previous one has 90% drawn comb
• Feed package bees 1:1 sugar syrup
• Feed pollen patties until pollen is available
• In small hive beetle (shb) areas monitor patties for infestation
• Watch returning bees at entrance for evidence of pollen collection
Replace the queen if she is dead or not laying.
• Keep entrances small until colony numbers increase
• Inspect for presence of queen by looking for eggs and young larvae
• Monitor queen performance from the brood pattern
• Replace queen if she is dead or not laying enough eggs to increase colony numbers
• Do not consider a honey harvest until all brood chambers have 100% drawn comb and colony is full of healthy bees
Feed pollen patties until natural pollen is available.
• Bottled sugar water is not honey! Do not put honey supers on when feeding sugar syrup
• Learn seasonal pollen and nectar plants in your area
• Learn about your bees’ foraging area whether urban, suburban or rural
