Winter in the Bee Yard (December-February)

Deep Dormancy → Maximum Conservation → Fragile Late-Winter Expansion

 

Primary Winter Goals

  • Conserve resources
  • Preserve honey reserves
  • Maintain dry internal climate
  • Protect cluster integrity
  • Ensure access to stores
  • Support safe brood restart

 

 

Major Winter Risks

  • Starvation inches from honey
  • Entrance blockage (snow/dead bees)
  • Moisture condensation chilling cluster
  • Late winter protein deficit
  • Nosema stress
  • Premature brood stimulation
  • Wind exposure

Winter To-Do

  • Monitor hive weight trajectory

  • Add emergency dry feed when necessary

  • Maintain ventilation and moisture control

  • Clear entrances

  • Protect from wind exposure

  • Order spring queens/packages/nucs

  • Prepare spring equipment

Seasonal Theme: Conservation → Survival → Controlled brood restart
Overall Objective: Maintain cluster integrity, prevent starvation and moisture stress, and support a safe transition toward early brood rearing.

Weather Trends

  • December: 23–34°F; snow accumulation; sustained cold
  • January: 23–34°F; extended sub-freezing; highest snow totals
  • February: 24–40°F; intermittent thaws possible
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December - Strict Conservation

Bee Mood & Activity

  • Low responsiveness
  • Highly protective if opened
  • No external activity
  • Active thermoregulation

Brood Development

  • 4–6 frames of bees
  • No brood
  • Varroa dormant (no brood reproduction)

Inspections/Equipment Management:

  • External checks only
  • Mouse guards in place
  • Entrance reduced
  • Clear entrances of snow and dead bees
  • Maintain ventilation
  • Prevent wind from blasting into entrance
  • Heft hives to monitor weight trajectory
  • Do not open unless emergency
  • Repair/build spring equipment

Food Management:

  • No foraging
  • Steady honey consumption
  • Add dry sugar/fondant if hive feels light
  • No liquid feed

Pest & Disease Management

  • Varroa dormant phase
  • Ideal oxalic timing (broodless)

 

January - Deep Survival Mode

Bee Mood & Activity

  • Deep energy conservation
  • Occasional cleansing flights
  • Slow cluster migration across stores
  • Defensive if disturbed

Brood Development

  • Little to no brood (unless unusually mild)
  • 4–6 frames of bees

Inspection/Equipment Management

  • Heft only; avoid opening
  • Mouse guards in place
  • Entrance reduced
  • Clear entrances of snow and dead bees
  • Maintain ventilation
  • Prevent wind from blasting into entrance
  • Heft hives to monitor weight trajectory
  • Do not open unless emergency
  • Repair/build spring equipment

Food Management

  • Stored honey only
  • Add dry sugar/fondant if needed (do not break cluster)
  • Avoid liquid syrup

Pest & Disease Management

  • Low varroa activity
  • Mouse intrusion risk

February - Fragile Biological Reactivation

Bee Mood & Activity

  • Cleansing flights on warmer days
  • Slightly more reactive
  • Internal brood warming begins
  • Still defensive and fragile

Brood Development

  • Queen resumes light laying late month
  • Brood warming increases metabolic demand
  • Varroa reproduction resumes when brood appears
  • 5–7 frames of bees

Inspection/Equipment Management

  • Heft regularly
  • brief inspection only if ≥50°F
  • Mouse guards in place
  • Entrance reduced
  • Clear entrances of snow and dead bees
  • Maintain ventilation
  • Prevent wind from blasting into entrance
  • Heft frequently
  • Quick peek possible at 50°F
  • Do not expand space

Food Management

  • Carbohydrate demand increases
  • Dry sugar/fondant if light
  • Protein patty only if pollen critically low and temps allow brief opening
  • Avoid overstimulating brood
  • Starvation risk peaks
  • Avoid liquid feed

Pest & Disease Management

  • Varroa reproduction restarts with brood
  • Nosema stress in damp conditions
  • Oxalic vapor possible early if broodless

Major Winter Forage in Eastern Washington

December -January

  • None

 

February - (Weather dependent)

  • Maple – pollen

  • Willow – pollen