February: The Turning Point for the Bees
It All Begins Here
February is the month when things begin to turn around for the bees.
The daylight stretches a little further each evening. There’s the occasional softer day when the air hints at what’s to come. Whatever signals they’re reading, the bees respond. Brood rearing quietly increases. The colony begins preparing itself for spring long before most of us would say winter is over.
It’s remarkable how tuned in they are.
I remember reading about scientific experiments where researchers attempted to “trick” bees by manipulating light and temperature — creating winter conditions in summer and summer in spring. What they discovered was fascinating. Bees don’t operate with some internal miniature calendar. Instead, they respond with extraordinary sensitivity to environmental cues.
Fresh pollen availability was highlighted as one of the primary triggers. In fact, bees will increase brood production dramatically if fresh pollen is coming in — sometimes even beyond what their nectar stores can comfortably sustain.
That sensitivity explains something many of us have experienced.
Not so long ago we had a season where temperatures stayed stubbornly low right through to May. Morning frosts. Sleet showers. Yet colonies continued to expand. Some of us even dealt with swarms in May despite wintry mornings. The bees were clearly responding to signals beyond just temperature.
So what does this mean for us as beekeepers?
Supporting Colonies in Late Winter
The obvious priority is ensuring adequate carbohydrate supply.
At this time of year, I recommend what I call hive peeking. Rather than conducting a full inspection, simply remove the roof and crown board and gently look down between the frames. I actually prefer to do this around 4°C. If you’re careful and gentle, the bees remain huddled and calm, and disturbance is minimal.
You’re looking for two things:
Where the cluster is positioned.
Whether they have accessible stores where they are.
If the bees are not sitting under honey, place fondant directly above the cluster — not off to one side. While using the crown board feeder hole can be convenient, I’ve seen too many colonies starve because they didn’t move up to additional stores above them.
Bees don’t have a “map” of where every honey store is. Typically, they start low in the hive, where the stored honey above acts as insulation in the cold. As they consume stores, they gradually move through the hive. But it’s entirely possible for a colony to end up isolated in a corner, consuming their immediate stores and dying with honey just inches away on the other side.
When placing fondant directly on top of the cluster, you may need an eke — a small spacer that creates room beneath the crown board for the block.
As someone running bees commercially rather than as a hobby, I take a slightly different approach. I use empty supers (without frames) instead of ekes. Yes, it creates a larger cavity above the bees, and some argue this increases the volume they need to heat. Personally, I’ve not found this to cause issues. In my view, ensuring carbohydrate access matters more than slightly reducing internal hive volume. Energy supply comes first.
Just keep an eye out for wild comb being drawn if conditions suddenly improve.
Don’t Forget the Wind
February also brings another risk: exposure.
With trees and hedges at their barest, wind protection is reduced. For me, this is often the point when hives are most vulnerable to being blown over. A hive that has stood solidly all year can suddenly topple once that natural windbreak disappears.
Strapping down hives is essential at this time of year.
February sits in that quiet tension between winter and spring. The bees are already moving forward. Brood is increasing. The cycle is restarting.
As beekeepers, our role is simple: observe carefully, intervene lightly, and ensure they don’t run out of fuel before the nectar flows.
Here’s hoping for sun, blossom, and a fantastic spring ahead.
Justin Lanyon Olver