The Apiary Year - April
- By now it should be getting warmer.
- Pollen and nectar available from:
- Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)
- Horse Chestnut(Aesculus hippocastanum)
- Hazel Bush (Corylus avellana)
- Pussy Willow(Salix caprea)
- Oil seed rape may well be in flower at this time
- Oil seed rape honey needs to be extracted promptly.
- It crystalises in the cell very quickly and becomes unusable.
- Time for first full inspection.
- In the super:
- It may be necessary to add more supers
- Depends on the nectar flow.
- Oil seed rape honey needs to be extracted as soon as capped.
- There may be a cold snap - even snow:
- Check stores - add thin syrup if needed.
- In the brood box:
- Egg laying is increasing rapidly
- Is there enough space for the brood?
- Consider adding a super below the excluder.
- Check for laying workers.
- Several eggs in each cell.
- Eggs near top of cell - workers cannot reach bottom of cell.
- If eggs at base of cell may be a new queen - she will learn!
- Some drone may mature
- Brood comb replacement can be started
- Brood comb should be replaced every 3 years by:
- Bailey Comb Exchange
- Shook Swarm
- Ad-hoc replacement
- Expect to spend 2 to 3 hours a month on each hive.
.
