Getting ready for spring - beekeeping in the Cotswolds

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AlqFib1aSJzBqmlpmDhgCohP7kE3

We start checking on the hives in February. 

Checks include:

STORES - honey reserves for the bees to eat when it's too cold or wet to fly to nectar sources.

QUEEN - looking to see if the queen has started laying eggs - essential for building up the size of the colony. We also mark the queen with a marking pen, which makes locating her easier during manipulations such as swarming prevention.

TEMPER - I generally use eggs from our colonies to breed new queens. Easy handling is an important trait - we don't like bees which chase you away fro the apiary.