🐝 February Beekeeping Guide – Winter Care & Spring Preparation

February Beekeeping Tasks – What You Need to Know

In this detailed February guide, we’ll cover:

✅ Checking hive food stores – How to assess your colony’s needs 

✅ Hive inspections – What signs to look for in February 

✅ How to feed your bees properly – When and what to feed 

✅ Beginner beekeeping advice – How to get started this spring 

✅ Essential beekeeping equipment – What you need this month 

✅ February maintenance – What to do if you lost a hive 

✅ Looking ahead to March – Preparing for the first bloom

By following these steps, you’ll ensure your colony is strong and healthy heading into spring.

📌 February Checklist for Beekeepers

1️⃣ Check Food Stores & Hive Health

Winter stores can run low by February, especially as the queen begins laying and bees consume more food. Check your hive’s weight by gently lifting the back—if it feels light, you may need to supplement feeding.

🕵️ Key signs to watch for: 

•  Wax crumbs at the entrance – This means bees are uncapping honey stores. 
•  Bees carrying pollen – A sign that brood-rearing has begun. 
•  No activity? This may indicate starvation or cold-induced inactivity. 

🔗 Need emergency feed? Shop Hive Alive Fondant → | Shop Apipasta Fondant →

☀️ Taking Advantage of Warm Days in February

🐝 Feeding Bees in February – Fondant vs. Syrup

🐝 Beginner Beekeepers – How to Get Started This Spring

If you’re new to beekeeping, February and March are the best months to prepare before the season starts. 

Essential Steps for New Beekeepers:

📚 Take a beekeeping course – Our next Fundamentals of Beekeeping course is coming soon! Stay tuned for dates. 

🏡 Get your hive ready – Choose from National, Commercial, or Rose hives. 

🐝 Sourcing your bees – Order from a reputable Irish beekeeper (preferably native Irish honeybees – Apis Mellifera Mellifera). 

📍 Choosing an apiary site – Look for a sheltered, sunny location with good airflow and access to fresh water. 

 🔗 Explore Beekeeping Books for Beginners → https://www.donegalbees.ie/collections/education 

🔗 Shop Beekeeping Starter Kits → https://www.donegalbees.ie/collections/hive-kits

🛠 Essential Beekeeping Equipment for February

Before the season starts, ensure you have the right tools: 

🦺 Protective Clothing & Gloves – Shop Here 

🔥 Smoker & Hive Tools – Shop Here

🍯 Fondant for Feeding – Shop Hive Alive | Shop Apipasta

📏 Hive Straps & Mouse Guards – Shop Here 

📖 Beekeeping Books – Browse Here

❄️ February Maintenance – What If Your Colony Didn’t Survive?

Losing a colony over winter can be difficult, but it’s important to assess what went wrong so you can improve for next year. 

Steps to take if your hive didn’t survive:

🔹 Inspect the frames – Look for signs of starvation (bees with heads inside cells) or disease. 

🔹 Clean & disinfect the hive before reusing it.

🔹 Order new bees early – Spring colonies sell out fast, so secure yours now. 

 🐝 Need replacement bees? Contact local suppliers or your beekeeping association.

🌱 Looking Ahead – March Beekeeping Prep

March is the start of active beekeeping season, so now is the time to: 

🌸 Prepare for the first pollen sources – Willow, hazel, and dandelions will start appearing. 

🛠  Plan for Varroa treatment – Start monitoring mite levels before brood-rearing increases. 

🐝 Check hive expansion options – Order new frames, wax foundation, and supers in advance. 

 🔗 Shop Hive Frames & Foundation → https://www.donegalbees.ie/collections/frames-foundation

🔗 Browse Beekeeping Tools for Spring → https://www.donegalbees.ie/collections/tools-and-brushes

Need Help or Have Questions?

We're here to help with everything you need, whether it's sourcing bees, selecting equipment, or deciding which book to read next. If you can't find what you're looking for, contact us directly - we're more than happy to help! 

Míle Buíochas from Donegal Bees - Happy Beekeeping! 🐝