March Monthly Tips

March is the month the colony is at its lowest adult (forager) population as the
bees work toward spring buildup. Although they are bringing in some pollen, it
can be limited, plus the population is increasing so fast that the hive has a hard
time keeping up―running the risk of starvation for growing colonies. Continue
monitoring food stores and practicing the February feeding tips, working to
maintain a 20-pound surplus. Feed pollen substitutes during cold weeks to
maintain brood building.
You should see the population of your hive beginning to explode. Your queen
should be laying a tremendous number of eggs, and a new generation of bees
should be hatching. If you do not see any signs of eggs, larvae, or brood, your
hive is queenless and you should order a replacement queen or merge this hive
with another. If your hive has fewer than two frames of bees, merging is your best
option. If you have three frames of bees, you can add a frame of brood from a
stronger hive and give the hive a new queen.
If you can find queens to purchase, you can make a split in late March or anytime
in April. If you make a split in late March, four frames of solid brood, a mated
queen, and proper care should guarantee that a hive is ready to make honey in
early May.
Prevent swarming by adding boxes when the existing box becomes 75% full of
bees or by splitting your hive. If your hive has swarm cells (queen cells
containing larvae or pupae) on the bottom or edges of a frame, the only way to
prevent the hive from swarming is by splitting the hive. Simply removing the cells
is rarely sufficient, as we typically miss a cell or two.
Make sure any stored supers are free of wax moths. If you use wax moth
crystals, now is a good time to replenish if they have evaporated.
6. Remove entrance reducers to make room for the increased bee traffic as well as
to ensure that hives do not overheat on warm days.