- As spring enters full swing, your hive should continue to grow rapidly. Feed 1:1 sugar syrup or premade syrup as needed. Work to maintain at least a 10–15 pound surplus of stored honey or syrup. There should be no need to feed any form of pollen substitute.
- April is the perfect month to requeen hives. We recommend requeening every year to ensure seamless brood production and hives that remain as healthy as possible.
- Most splits are made in April, as that is when queens are typically available. Remember, for best results, give each split at least four frames of brood and a new queen and feed well for at least three weeks.
- If you are purchasing hives, nucs, or packages, make sure to feed well, verify the queen is laying, and add boxes when the first box becomes 75% full of bees.
- April is the most common month for hives to swarm. Ensure each hive has sufficient room or is split to prevent swarming.
- It is generally not advised to treat for mites (or any other issues) as the spring honey flow begins. Most southern states will see this begin in late April or early May, while northern regions will see honey flows begin in May–June. Therefore, treatments can be done through April if needed.
Strong hives in early spring are a wonderful problem! But when should you add a super vs. a brood box? Let's watch this video to find out!
