January is when our queen bees are laying the foundations of the new season by winding the brood nest back up. While she’s busy inside the cluster, there is plenty for the beekeeper to do in preparation for the upcoming season.

Inspecting Your Hive(s)

Just because it’s cold does not mean we can turn a blind eye to our hives. In fact, as the queen starts to rebuild the brood nest, it’s more important to check your bees and make sure they have plenty of food to keep the new brood warm. They will burn through their honey stores quickly, so check your bees on a calm, sunny day to see how high they are in the hive. If they are up against the inner cover, they must be fed.

Feed solid sugar in the form of granulated sugar on newspaper(mountain camp method), sugar bricks, fondant, or winter patties. Regular patties are not ideal because they have too much pollen and will trigger too much brood production, requiring even more food. Once your bees need to be fed, you should be on a regular schedule to feed them as needed. Should other hives die by this time, you can move honey frames or whole boxes to healthy living hives with a decent population.

Check the entrance and make sure it’s clear of debris. Dead bees can pile up and trap living bees inside. If they cannot get out or have an adequate exchange of air, it is very easy for the hive to perish.

Winter inspections are typically exterior and top inspections. It is not recommended to pull frames and break the cluster right now.

Check Your Ventilation

During the winter, it is important to make sure the hive has adequate ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and condensation. This can be achieved by opening the hive entrance slightly or adding ventilation holes to the hive.

You can determine if you have a ventilation problem by checking the underside of the inner cover. If it is wet or growing mold, you may have an issue. Add ventilation by drilling a hole in the side of the top box, or by adding a shim or notched inner cover to allow some of the warm moist air to escape.

Prepare for Spring

It’s a good time to start planning for the spring. This can include ordering new bees or equipment, repairing or replacing old equipment, and making sure you have everything you need to start the beekeeping season. Review inspection notes from the previous year and figure out what you will do differently this spring.

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By taking care of some light maintenance of your bee hive, you will be setting yourself and your bees up for a successful spring build-up.