Beekeepers Blog

Queen Excluders: Yes or No? 🐝
A hot topic in beekeeping! They help keep brood out of your honey—but may slow down production. Learn when and how to use them wisely.

Every hive inspection holds more than meets the eye. While the basics—brood, eggs, stores, space, and health—are essential, the real lessons often come from what we overlook. When a hive suddenly fails after “looking fine” just weeks before, something was missed. Learning to look beyond the obvious and view each inspection as part of a bigger picture can reveal early warning signs and help prevent future problems—often hiding in plain sight.

Early spring beekeeping is all about balance—matching bee population to box space while keeping a close eye on honey stores. As colonies grow faster than forage appears, managing space and preventing starvation becomes critical. Stay ahead of swarms, feed when needed, and adjust space as your bees expand.