April Field Notes

IN THE HIVE:
- The bees may still cluster on cold days, but will be foraging and bringing in large quantities of pollen and nectar into the hive. 
- Despite the increase in foraging, colonies can still starve this month if flights are limited by bad weather or cold days. 
- Increase in drone rearing.
- Allow 1-2 weeks for a new package or nuc to establish before inspecting. 
INSPECTIONS & NUTRITION:
- Do a quick inspection of the brood pattern and food stores on the warmest days. 
- The colony should have 3-4 full honey combs. Feed the colony if the hive is light or the stores of honey are empty.
- Feed packages or nucs as soon as you get them.
- Use candy board, dry sugar, capped honey frames or a feeder with 1:1 sugar syrup.

PEST MANAGEMENT:
- It's tme to do a monthly monitoring of Varroa mites. Treat if you find 2 or more mites per 100 bees after a sugar shake or alcohol wash.
- If you are treating for mites with methods that cannot be used when supers are present, now is the time to use those treatments. 
- Check every single brood frame in the hive for American Foulbrood.
- Clean dead bees and debris off the bottom board during the first full hive inspection to prevent pest and disease infestation. 

​EQUIPMENT:
- This is a good month for requeening.
- Check often for swarm cells.
- Install new packages and nucs as they arrive.
- Balance out the hives by moving brood frames from one to another , but don't go overboard.
- Now is also a great time to swap hive locations. 

BEE YARD & ENVIRONMENT:
- Remove winter insulation and mouse guards, leave entrance reducers on.
- Remember to take notes if any colonies didi not live through the winter. try to diagnose what happened and note what you could do differently. 
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BLOOMING NOW:
- Dandelions
- Crocus
- Witch Hazel
- Maples, Willlows, Elms and Eastern Redbuds
- Poplar Trees
-Skunk Cabbage, Wild Strawberry, Deadnette, Yellow Rocket

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