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YEAR TWO: MANAGEMENT FOR <br /> SUCCESSFULLY WINTERED COLONIES <br /> FIRST INSPECTION: IS THE COLONY ALIVE? <br /> • In early March, when temperatures are at least 40-45°F, open the wintered colony by removing the <br /> wintering cover and inner cover to see if the colony is alive. It is likely that the bees will be clustered <br /> in the top box. If the bees are not in the top box, then look down between the frames to see if they <br /> are in the second box. Gently blow air between the frames (with your veil on of course) and listen for <br /> sounds of life. If the bees are not yet in the top box, it likely means they still have the honey in the <br /> middle box to eat. Do not remove any frames during this inspection unless temperatures are above <br /> 50°F. <br /> • If by the March inspection the cluster is smaller than a football or spanning only 2-3 frames, the <br /> colony will likely not survive through spring. <br /> • Assess colony weight: when you heft it from the side, does the colony feel light or heavy? Estimate <br /> the number of honey frames left, by looking down between the frames for resources. To survive the <br /> remaining cold weather, the colony needs a minimum of two honey frames. It is best not to feed your <br /> colony before it gets warm, but if you think they are starving, only feed with candy boards or 1:1 <br /> sugar syrup. Read more about using candy boards here: Z.umn.edu/GaryCandy. <br /> • If alive, provide your bees with pollen substitute on top of the frames at the edge of the cluster. If the <br /> bees are in the second box, crack the top box and slip the patty onto the frame tops in the second <br /> box and gently lower the top box back down. <br /> • Cover the colony back up with the winter cover and moisture board. <br /> • Two weeks after the first visit, check if the colony needs additional pollen substitute and 1:1 sugar <br /> syrup. <br /> Spring Feeding <br /> Joni, <br /> 16 <br /> fArg. Like a nectar flow, sugar syrup stimulates the colony to grow. Pollen helps <br /> them feed the little brood they are rearing naturally in early spring but does <br /> not stimulate them unnecessarily. Receiving sugar syrup too early in spring <br /> could stimulate the bees to rear more brood than they can take care of. If the <br /> temperatures drop for a period of time, the cluster of adult bees needs to fully <br /> encompass the brood to keep it warm. As brood needs temperatures of 92-94°F <br /> Biology to develop, cold exposure can lead to the death of brood at the edges of the <br /> cluster. It is always best to follow the bees' lead, rather than push them. <br /> Box <br /> Beekeeping in Northern Climates 52 <br />