Things You Should Do While it's Cold Outside!

It may be cold outside, keeping us from spending time with our bees—but one thing is certain: you still have chores to do!

1. Paint boxes – Winter is the perfect time to give your existing hives a fresh coat of paint. On a cool, dry day with little hive activity, you shouldn’t have any trouble from the bees. Wearing at least a veil is recommended just in case, but otherwise, taking advantage of the current conditions will prolong the life of your hive boxes for years. Don’t forget the corners—filling gaps with wood putty or caulk before painting can prevent serious robbing frenzies next year!

2. Build boxes – Spring will be here before you know it. Use indoor time in the garage to build boxes and frames. Not only can you save money by assembling them yourself, but it’s also a fun family project on a cold winter day!

3. Move hives – Moving bees is challenging during production months (March–September). Winter is the easiest time to relocate hives on your property. Colonies are at their lowest population, bees are clustered inside, and boxes are lightest due to reduced honey and resources. Moving bees now prevents orientation issues and “fly backs” to the old location—no need to worry about the 2-foot, 2-mile rule!

4. Get organized – For experienced beekeepers, back-stocked supplies often get out of control. While it’s cold, take the opportunity to organize the garage, barn, or honey house. You’ll be much happier walking into a neat workspace where everything is easy to find come spring.

5. Order bees and queens – Every year, the best intentions are to get replacement bees or queens on order early, but life gets in the way. Waiting too long can leave you with a 4–6 week delay for spring splits. Ordering in November or December puts you at the front of the line instead of the middle—or end. Don’t procrastinate! Make this year your year to stay ahead of schedule!