When a hive swarms, the old queen and about half the bees leave, weakening the colony. You can usually spot it coming by checking for overcrowding, swarm cells, or a beard of bees hanging on the front. Prevention is key—adding space or splitting the hive can help keep your bees put and your colony strong.
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.
Beekeepers mix sugar syrup by weight, volume, or guesstimate—but which method really works best? There’s more to consider than you might think, and a few surprising insights could change the way you feed your bees.
