Happy New Year everyone! I don’t know about you but all this talk about leaving 2020 behind and looking forward to positive change in 2021 sounds nice, but the pandemic rages on. Day by day is how I am functioning lately. Anytime I get down, I visit the animals on my farm. They know nothing of the tornado of madness we humans are swirling in. The goats bring joy with their playful jumps and sweet faces. The chickens provide endless entertainment. Today I watched as 3 hens sat on their perch and talked to each other. I don’t speak chicken but they would look at each other and make little gestures of sound that would indicate a conversation. And of course, the humming of the bees inside their cozy little microclimate of a hive. It also makes such a difference when the sun comes out. For several days we have been surrounded by the gray wet blanket of winter. On the warmer side but not very compatible to happy thoughts. Looks like some cold weather is moving in briefly for a few days this week but the mild winter trend is continuing into January.
What are the bees doing in january 2021
We are past the winter solstice and are now gaining 2 minutes of sunlight every day. Yippee! The bees have started the process of rearing new bees to take over in the spring. If the queen lays eggs today, they will hatch on the 7th of February. This is when winter stores will start to be used for raising young. This means more consumption of food stores as more energy is needed to raise the temperature and feed the young than in maintaining the winter cluster. The bees born today will likely be out foraging by the time pollen appears from the maple trees in late March or early April. Just under 40 days till March! This is the time of year beekeepers start to get excited and a little nervous. However, if viruses from mites were bad enough, your hives would likely be dead by now. That does not mean they are out of the woods. Last year, I lost 25 of 100 hives between December and March. They could still succumb to starvation or small cluster size. The brood nest is only able to expand if they have enough bees to keep the temperature at that optimal 94.4F that is required to rear brood. Also, issues of dysentery due to honey stores that are too wet(bees were not able to cure nectar or sugar syrup before winter) can lead to problems in the spring. Reference the hive above with all the brown in the snow. Some brown spots are normal as they take cleansing flights throughout the winter but what is pictured above is not a normal amount of bee poo. These bees have a bad case of dysentery which could lead to Nosema, a fungal infection in their gut that can shorten their lifespan and even kill the colony. I fully anticipate this hive to have issues in the spring if it manages to make it until then. However, there is nothing I can do about it now.
What is the beekeeper doing in January 2021
Beekeeping has been a great teacher for me in remembering what I have control of and what I don’t. It has also taught me that the investment of time and energy put into something earlier rather than later, will pay off during a time when you don’t have the opportunity anymore. The bees are on their own schedule and taking cues from nature as well as the health of the hive. If we can follow their lead more, it will make us all better beekeepers. With that said, besides the occasional visit to the bees to listen for life, there is nothing that should or can be done in the hive this time of year. I used to add feed on warm days in January or other months of the winter. After 12 years experience wintering bees in the north, I have learned to wait till March to even think about adding food. I am sorry if I have told you otherwise. We are always learning with the bees. Remember that when you listen to experts. We are all always learning from the bees. Thats why we ove them so! Check out this very helpful temp guide from Dorothey Morgan of Kentucky queen breeders.
Up until the solstice, bees only consume about 1 pound of food per week. If winter starts in mid-October, by December 21st they will have only lost about 10 pounds. This might vary a little depending on weather but if you did your job right in the fall, and made sure they had enough stores then, they should have no problem with starvation.
Also, there has been more and more evidence coming out supporting the theory that bees do not benefit from a top entrance in winter. In fact, they loose a lot of heat from the cluster and necessary moisture to help them eat honey in th winter. Just look at the thermal picture above. The whitest part is the hottest part. Notice the white circle around the entrance! I highly recommend you watch this video by a beekeeper in the Yukon who has been collecting data on his hives. The Yukon is one of the harshest places to keep bees. His insight on thermal dynamics in a hive is eye opening. If you need ventilation, the best spot for a small hole to provide for cleansing flights is actually in the middle of the box or by using a screened bottom board as long as the have empty space below. I have been able to achieve this by using old deeps as my hive stands.
So moral of the story is that in January, plan for next year, build equipment so it is ready in the spring, order more bees if you wish to expand or if you have already lost yours. Take a walk to listen to your bees but don’t disrupt they hive. IF you watch the video I linked above, you will understand why. Takes them several days to normalize the cluster after knocking! I used to do this all the time. Instead, I invested in a thermal camera or I listen really carefully. If I can’t hear them, i wait till spring. They could be tucked in the back.
Also, this beekeeper is preparing for the season in some major ways. After almost 8 years running the Beez Kneez honey house at 2200 Minnehaha Ave Minneapolis, MN, as of April 1st, I will be closing this location and moving my headquarters to my farm in western, WI. What does this mean? I will still produce and sell delicious, Pure, raw honey extracted by bicycle, I will still teach beekeeping classes and Camp Beez Kneez, Manage a few hives with existing Urban Apiary partners in Mpl/St.paul and I will sell equipment from my partners at Betterbee as long as it is feasible. I plan to increase my capacity selling nucs and queens but that will take some time.
it is bitter sweet but I have to recognize what I have control over and what I don’t. In order to keep my business alive during a global pandemic which I have no control over, i can no longer operate in Mpls. I must adjust, pay attention to the health of the hive and learn from what the bees are trying to tell me. They have gotten me this far, i trust they will take me into the future as long as I keep listening.
