3 Mistakes in Late Winter Beekeeping!
Is your bee colony ready for spring, or are they on the brink of starvation? Join Master Beekeeper Ray Hewitt from Honey Top Bees in Chapin, SC, as he shares the 3 essential Do’s and 3 critical Don’ts for late winter hive management. Don’t be fooled by the melting snow—this is the most dangerous time of year for your honeybees!
In this video, you’ll learn:
How to check if your bees are alive without opening the hive (including using a thermal camera!).
The “heft test” for checking food stores.
When to feed fondant vs. sugar water.
The danger of opening hives and swapping boxes too early.
How to clear hive entrances to prevent colony loss.
0:00 – Introduction: The Dangers of Late Winter
0:53 – Do #1: Checking if the Bees Made It
2:13 – Using a Thermal Camera for Hive Inspections
3:13 – Do #2: Assessing Food Stores (The Heft Test)
4:41 – Do #3: Cleaning Out Hive Entrances
6:00 – Don’t #1: Opening the Hive Too Early
7:06 – Don’t #2: Feeding Sugar Water Too Soon
8:35 – Don’t #3: Swapping Boxes Too Early
10:30 – Final Tips for Spring Success
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