Early Spring Bee Feeding

Crocus in full bloom

Early spring poses a formidable challenge for apian communities. In the wintry months, honey bees subsist on stockpiled nectar and pollen culled from the antecedent annum.

Nonetheless, during the onset of spring, these provisions tend to deplete before substantial quantities of nectar and pollen become available, which is vital for the sturdy progression of the colony. In this pivotal period, augmenting nourishment may bolster the colony by facilitating oviposition, nurturing larvae, and fostering colony expansion.

Honeybees, like many creatures, necessitate a well-balanced diet to survive. The mature bees can exist mainly on the carbohydrates discovered in nectar and honey during the productive late spring and summer seasons. Nevertheless, a diverse diet with sufficient amounts of fats, minerals, vitamins, and proteins is essential to produce and nurture the developing brood. Pollen, a particularly significant protein source for bees, is responsible for most of these vital nutrients.

The amino acids required for the optimum growth and development of the brood may be absent from the available pollen sources based on their exact location and time of year. One of the most effective methods to guarantee that your colony is adequately nourished is to provide pollen replacements at the beginning of spring.

One of the essential tasks of beekeeping is ensuring that the hive has a sufficient food supply. A simple way to determine if the hive needs food is through the "hefting" technique. This technique involves gently lifting one corner of the hive and assessing its weight. An experienced beekeeper can do this easily, but a novice may need to gain experience to determine how heavy the hive should feel.

An alternative method for novice beekeepers is to monitor the colony's food consumption by tracking the honey level in the hive. This can be done using a "hive scale" placed beneath the hive to measure its weight over time. This allows beekeepers to determine how much honey the colony consumes and when it needs replenishment.

Another way to determine if a bee colony needs food is by inspecting the super, which is the hive's section used for honey storage. To do this, the beekeeper must remove the hive's roof and look inside the super.

If there is still plenty of honey in the super, then the colony has an adequate food supply. However, if the honey stores are running low, providing additional food for the colony is essential. 

For instance, if the beekeeper has fed the colony with fondant, they can check the remaining block to determine how much food is left.

Ensuring the colony has enough food to sustain itself through the winter is crucial. A lack of food can lead to starvation and the eventual death of the colony. Additionally, insufficient food stores can leave the hive susceptible to disease and pest outbreaks, ultimately leading to the loss of the entire colony.

If a beekeeper determines their colony requires additional food, the next step is providing the suitable feed. When the weather is unsettled, and no natural forage is available, fondant can sustain the colony until the weather improves.

Once the weather improves, and signs of natural forage appear, it is time to switch to a liquid sugar solution. This feed is made by mixing one pound of sugar with one pint of water, and it is for immediate use rather than storage by the bees. 

It is important to note that a sugar solution can stimulate the queen to start laying, so it is essential to wait for good weather to avoid overstimulating the colony.

The timing of feeding is crucial to the success of the colony. Overfeeding can lead to the storage of excess food, which can attract pests and cause other problems for the hive. Conversely, underfeeding can lead to starvation and the eventual loss of the colony.

When a good flow of natural forage becomes available, it is time to remove the feeder from the colony. The reason is that any remaining sugar syrup in the feeder can mix with the honey, which can negatively impact the quality and flavour of the honey.

The presence of sugar syrup in the honey can also lead to legal issues, as most countries have strict regulations on producing and selling honey. In the United States, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets standards for the composition and labelling of honey. Any impurity can result in penalties for the beekeeper.

To avoid any issues with honey quality or legal compliance, beekeepers must remove the feeder as soon as they notice a good flow of natural forage being collected. By doing so, the bees will switch to collecting nectar from natural sources. Any remaining sugar syrup in the hive will be consumed by the bees rather than stored as honey.