When to Start a Beehive – Bee Queens and Hive Activity

The activity of bees and their lives are strongly influenced by the changing seasons. Each month brings about new changes in behavior to a beehive and its occupants. Obviously, a beehive is less active during the colder months and more active when the weather is warm, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore the hive while they are inactive.

That raises the question: is starting a beehive better in cold weather or warm weather? Understanding how and when to start a beehive is best determined by first knowing how bee activity changes according to weather and the role of bee queens.

Bee Activity by Season

Each season brings its own challenges to a hive, and the bee queens play a vital role in regulating hive activity. The activity level of a bee is dictated by the weather, and cold weather inhibits their movement. In fact, bees left out in the elements, unprotected will often not survive the winter.

A high-level concentration of bees in a beehive, led by the queen bee, will be better able to tolerate the cold than a hive with fewer bees. But any hive is in danger of succumbing to the cold if the temperature drops too low. Your role as a beekeeper is to act as custodian of the hive, keeping it safe and in good condition throughout the year. The rest is up to the bees and their queen bee!

Winter Hive Management:

During the winter, the bees will form a tight cluster around the queen bee to ensure her survival and keep each other as protected as possible during the coldest months. Only female worker bees will be in the hive at this point, having forced out the drones who no longer serve any purpose.

The bees and their queen bee will consume about 50 pounds of honey during this period, but they may run out of food before the winter weather eases. As a responsible beekeeper, you will need to provide the hive with sugar to supplement their appetites toward the end of the season. In the meantime, your main objective is to keep snow and ice off the hive and ensure there is an emergency food supply available.

Spring Hive Activity and Starting a Beehive:

Honeybees often start spring on the brink of starvation, which is why you’ll often need to provide an emergency food supply until the flowers begin to bloom, and the bees can forage for their own sustenance again.

If you’re contemplating starting a beehive in the spring, it’s generally necessary to assist the bees by feeding them sugar syrup. This support enables them to build up their resources inside the hive until they can find an adequate supply of foraging resources in the area, ideally becoming self-sufficient.

As the weather warms up, the queen bee will increase egg production, and their food stores will gradually replenish. You should closely monitor the bees to ensure that everything is progressing as planned and that they are producing enough food for themselves. It might be essential to supply them with emergency food rations until you observe that they have a sustainable food source of their own.

By May, hive activity should be in full swing, and the drones that were expelled when winter began will have been mostly replaced. It’s crucial to maintain your routine beekeeping practices during this period, including medicating the colony and adding more supers as needed. This period may witness a hive population explosion, so be sure to keep up with hive maintenance.

Summer Hive Activity and Queen Bee:

June and July usher in a period of constant activity within the hive as worker bees collect pollen, produce honey, and tend to the queen bee. The presence of drones will peak during this period, but you’ll notice their population gradually diminishing in August as their usefulness to the queen wanes.

Stay vigilant for potential predators and other insects attracted to the hive’s honey, as they can cause damage to both the hive and its inhabitants. As September begins, the drones’ presence will drastically change, and you’ll observe a decline in the hive’s population as the worker bees dismiss the drones.

Fall Hive Activity and Preparing for Winter:

At this point, you likely have harvested the hive’s honey, but it’s crucial to leave approximately 60-70 pounds of honey for the bees to endure the harsh months ahead. The queen bee will lay fewer eggs as the workers’ activity begins to dwindle.

During the fall, the beekeeper should focus on medicating the bees and supplementing their food with sugar syrup. As autumn progresses, the bees will begin to cluster around the queen, and hive activity will decrease significantly. This is the time to reinforce the hive’s security to ward off rodents and predators that might seek a meal from a hibernating brood colony.

November and December will require little more than cursory inspections to ensure that everything is as it should be.

Weather Conditions for a New Hive:

Spring’s arrival and warming weather signal the ideal time for bees to commence a new hive. Their activity levels synchronize with the blooming of flowers, allowing them to nurture and expand their hive as the season flourishes. Cold weather inhibits the bees’ movements, and they won’t actively work on the hive until the season changes. Keep in mind that spring may commence later in some regions than in others, so it’s crucial to plan accordingly for your specific region.

Timing to Start in the Spring:

When initiating a beehive, spring is the optimal season. As soon as the weather warms up and flowers start to bloom, you can establish your hive. Plan diligently and introduce your bees to the hive as early as possible, allowing them ample time to gather nectar over the next few months. By the time fall arrives, your hive should be well-established, and honey production should have been bountiful, barring any unforeseen complications.

When to Order Bees:

Order your bees to arrive in early spring to ensure they can be installed in the hive promptly. It’s essential to distinguish between ordering and receiving your bees – they’re two distinct processes! Order well in advance to guarantee your bees arrive on time. Consult with local beekeepers to identify the optimum time to order from local suppliers.

Avoid accepting bee delivery before the weather sufficiently warms up in your area (as this varies across the country). You want the bees to be active enough to start building the hive and making it their own quickly. For beginners, conduct thorough research to determine when spring fully arrives in your region and prepare for your hive accordingly.

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve explored the intricate world of beekeeping, emphasizing the importance of understanding hive activity and the pivotal role of bee queens throughout the seasons. From the delicate balance of spring, where beekeepers assist their colonies in overcoming hunger, to the bustling life of summer with worker bees collecting nectar and producing honey, and finally, the preparations for winter’s hibernation in fall—every season presents unique challenges and opportunities.

Remember, the key to successful beekeeping lies in aligning your hive management with the natural rhythms of these incredible creatures. By following the guidelines provided here, you can embark on your beekeeping journey with confidence, ensuring thriving colonies and the production of nature’s liquid gold, honey. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced beekeeper, this guide serves as your compass to navigate the fascinating world of beekeeping and establish a harmonious partnership with these essential pollinators.