Seasonal Beekeeping Calendar: Spring Activities

The Awakening of the Hive: Spring Beekeeping in Britain

As the UK winter recedes and the first blossoms of spring appear, beekeeping activity ramps up dramatically. Spring marks a critical transition period for honeybee colonies across Britain, as they shift from survival mode to rapid growth and development. For beekeepers, this season brings a flurry of essential tasks aimed at supporting this natural expansion while preventing the challenges that come with it.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through the essential spring beekeeping activities tailored specifically to the British climate and beekeeping calendar. Whether you're managing hives in the milder southwest or the cooler Scottish borders, these timely interventions will help ensure your colonies thrive throughout the coming season.

Understanding the Spring Build-Up

Before we dive into specific tasks, it's important to understand what's happening in the colony during spring:

• Queen Activity: The queen dramatically increases her egg-laying rate, potentially reaching 1,500-2,000 eggs per day by late spring.
• Population Growth: The colony shifts from its winter cluster of perhaps 10,000 bees to potentially 50,000+ by early summer.
• Foraging Resumes: Worker bees take advantage of early blooms like crocus, dandelion, willow, and fruit blossoms.
• Drone Production: Colonies begin rearing male bees (drones) in preparation for the reproductive season.
• Swarm Preparation: As colonies grow, they naturally begin preparation for reproduction through swarming.

These natural processes guide our management priorities throughout the spring months.

Early Spring (February-March): Preparation and First Checks

As temperatures begin to rise but before full inspections are possible, focus on these preparatory tasks:

1. Equipment Preparation

Use the last weeks of winter to ensure you're ready for the busy season ahead:

• Clean and repair existing hive equipment
• Assemble and paint new boxes, frames, and other woodware
• Prepare foundation for frames that will be needed
• Clean and sterilize extraction equipment if not done after the last harvest
• Check protective clothing for tears or damage
• Service smokers, hive tools, and other beekeeping implements

2. Quick External Hive Assessment

Before full inspections are weather-appropriate, perform these non-invasive checks:

• Heft Test: Lift the back of each hive to gauge remaining stores. Lightweight hives may require emergency feeding.
• Entrance Observation: Watch for pollen coming in, which indicates the queen is laying and brood is being raised.
• Debris Check: Examine the debris on hive floors or varroa boards for signs of activity and potential issues.
• Check for Dead Colonies: Determine if any colonies didn't survive winter, and if so, seal them to prevent robbing.

3. Emergency Feeding

Late winter/early spring starvation is a common cause of colony loss in the UK:

• For lightweight hives, provide fondant or winter patties placed directly above the cluster
• Once temperatures reach 10°C consistently, you can switch to liquid feed (1:1 sugar syrup)
• Consider pollen substitutes to stimulate brood rearing if natural pollen is scarce
• Always feed in the evening to reduce the risk of robbing

Mid-Spring (March-April): First Full Inspections

When daytime temperatures consistently reach 12-15°C and it's calm and sunny, you can perform your first full colony inspections:

1. The First Spring Inspection

This critical first look inside should be brief but thorough:

• Queen Check: Look for the queen or, more practically, evidence of her presence through eggs and young larvae.
• Brood Pattern Assessment: A good pattern should be compact and consistent with few skipped cells.
• Disease Screening: Check for signs of nosema, chalk brood, EFB, AFB, and other brood diseases.
• Store Evaluation: Ensure there are sufficient honey and pollen stores to support rapid colony growth.
• Colony Strength: Note the number of frames covered with bees and frames containing brood.

2. Varroa Management

Spring is a crucial time for mite management before populations build up:

• Perform a mite count using a sugar shake, alcohol wash, or natural drop count
• Consider treatment options appropriate for spring and honey production
• Implement integrated pest management strategies like drone brood removal
• Record baseline mite levels to track throughout the season

3. Spring Cleaning

A thorough spring clean helps reduce disease pressure:

• Replace or clean the hive floor
• Scrape and clean propolis and wax from frame tops and hive bodies
• Move colonies to clean stands if possible
• Begin a comb replacement program, marking older frames for gradual removal
• Reduce the entrance if colonies are still small to prevent robbing

Late Spring (April-May): Managing Colony Expansion

As colonies rapidly expand and the main nectar flow approaches, focus shifts to managing growth and preventing swarming:

1. Swarm Prevention

Swarming typically peaks in May and June in most of the UK, so preventative measures should begin in April:

• Space Management: Add supers before they're completely needed to provide room for expansion.
• Regular Inspections: Check for queen cells every 7-9 days during peak swarm season.
• Artificial Swarm Techniques: Be prepared to perform split or artificial swarm procedures when queen cells are found.
• Ventilation: Ensure adequate ventilation, especially during warm spring days.
• Young Queens: Colonies headed by young queens are less likely to swarm, consider requeening from the previous year.

2. Supering for the Spring Flow

Prepare for and capitalize on the spring nectar flow:

• Add supers when colonies cover 7-8 frames and spring nectar sources are blooming
• Use queen excluders if desired to keep brood out of honey supers
• For strong colonies, consider adding more than one super at a time
• Position drawn comb in supers when available to encourage bees to move up

3. Feeding Considerations

By late spring, feeding strategies change:

• Stop syrup feeding at least two weeks before adding honey supers to prevent contamination
• Only feed if colonies are light on stores and weather is preventing foraging
• In areas with a pronounced "June gap," be prepared to feed again after spring bloom and before summer nectar flows

4. Queen Assessment and Potential Requeening

Spring is an excellent time to evaluate queen performance:

• Assess laying pattern, temperament, and colony buildup
• Mark unmarked queens for easier finding (2023 is a red year in the international color code)
• Order new queens for later requeening if current queens show deficiencies
• Consider raising your own queens from successful colonies adapted to local conditions

Regional Variations in Spring Management

The UK's diverse climate means spring beekeeping timelines vary considerably by region:

Southern England

• First inspections possible as early as late February in mild years
• Oilseed rape often provides a significant early nectar flow in April
• Swarming can begin by mid-April in warm springs
• Consider adding supers by early April in most years

Northern England and Scotland

• First inspections typically delayed until April
• Colony buildup generally slower, requiring extended feeding
• Swarming peak often later, in late May through June
• Spring nectar flow might not truly begin until May

Wales and Western Britain

• Higher rainfall can limit inspection opportunities
• Typically milder winters may result in earlier colony development
• Spring feeding often critical due to rapid brood expansion in fluctuating weather

Common Spring Challenges and Solutions

1. Spring Dwindling

Challenge: Colonies that appear to be shrinking rather than growing in spring.

Solutions:

• Check for nosema disease, which is common in spring
• Ensure adequate nutrition through supplemental feeding
• Consider uniting weak colonies to create stronger units
• Evaluate for queen issues and replace if necessary

2. Chilled Brood

Challenge: Spring temperature fluctuations can lead to brood being abandoned and chilled.

Solutions:

• Avoid inspections when temperatures are below 12°C
• Keep inspections brief in marginal weather
• Consider insulation on hive tops, especially in northern regions
• Don't over-super weak colonies, which can make it harder for bees to maintain brood nest temperature

3. Spring Queen Failures

Challenge: Queens that survived winter may fail as they ramp up egg laying.

Solutions:

• Keep queen cells from strong colonies to create nucs for emergency requeening
• Have a relationship with a queen breeder for early replacements
• Know how to perform emergency newspaper combines if necessary

4. Weather Challenges

Challenge: The UK's notoriously changeable spring weather can disrupt inspection schedules and foraging.

Solutions:

• Be opportunistic with inspections when good weather windows appear
• Have emergency feeding supplies ready for unexpected cold snaps
• Consider using clear crown boards or thermal imaging to reduce the need to open hives in marginal weather

Record-Keeping for Spring Management

Effective spring management relies on good records. For each colony, track:

• Queen status, age, and marking
• Colony temperament and strength
• Disease signs or treatments applied
• Frames of brood at each inspection (to track growth)
• Swarm cells found and management actions taken
• Feeding type, amount, and dates
• Equipment added (supers, etc.) and dates

Digital record-keeping apps, waterproof notebooks, or voice recordings can all be effective methods to maintain these critical records during the busy spring season.