March Beekeeping Guide 2025
🐝 March Beekeeping Guide – Preparing for the Season Ahead
As spring approaches, your bees are becoming more active, and March is a pivotal month in the beekeeping calendar. Now is the time to check on colony strength, monitor food stores, and prepare your equipment for the busy season ahead.
Here’s what you need to focus on this month:
✅ Checking colony activity & health
✅ When & how to inspect your hive
✅ Feeding guidelines for early spring
✅ Essential equipment to have on hand
✅ Best practices for beginners
🐝 Colony Activity – Signs of a Healthy Hive
1️⃣ Check Food Stores & Hive Health
Your bees should be flying well on warm days (above 10°C). If the weather allows:
🔍 Check for pollen loads – Bees bringing in pollen is a sign that brood rearing has begun.
🔥 Use a little smoke and lift the inner cover to assess activity. (See our Tool & Smoker Kit – €50)
🍯 Heft the hive – If it feels light, your colony may need feeding.
📝 Your bees should be as strong now as they were last September. If they appear weak, monitor closely and consider feeding (see below).
🚨 Health Checks – What to Watch For
🔹 Visible excreta on the top bars? This may indicate dysentery.
🔹 Condensation in the hive? Improve ventilation by adjusting entrance size.
🔹 Signs of starvation? Bees clustered in corners with heads in cells may need emergency feeding.
✅ If all looks well, keep disturbances to a minimum until the weather warms up.
🍯 Feeding Your Bees in March – When & What to Feed
Bees should have enough stores to last until nectar sources appear, but if they are low on food:
🌡 Wait for mild weather before feeding syrup!
- Use fondant if temperatures are still low. (Shop Fondant)
- Feed syrup (1:1 sugar to water) once bees are flying regularly.
- Use a contact feeder to prevent robbing.
🛠 Essential Beekeeping Equipment for March
Before the season starts, make sure your gear is ready:
✔ Protective Clothing, Smoker & Hive Tools (Shop Here →)
✔ Record Book – Track inspections & colony progress
✔ Blocks or bricks – Secure hives against strong winds
✔ Straps & Mouse Guards – Protect against pests (Shop Here →)
✔ Frames & Foundation Sheets – Ensure you have fresh supplies (Check Out Frames & Foundation →)
✔ Beekeeping Books & Videos – Expand your knowledge (Browse Here →)
🐝 Beginner’s Starter Kit Available! Includes beesuit, gloves, smoker, hive tool, and bee brush.
📌 March Hive Inspections – What You Need to Know
✔ Wait for a warm, calm day (~15°C or higher).
✔ Be quick & gentle – avoid unnecessary disruptions.
✔ Look for brood patterns & food stores.
🐝 Courtesy of the Haynes Bees Manual.
🏡 Getting Started in Beekeeping? Start Preparing Now!
If you’re new to beekeeping, now is the time to gather everything you need before the season begins.
✔ National Hive Starter Kits – Available in Timber or Polystyrene.
✔ Nucleus Hives – Essential for a new colony. (Shop National Poly Nuc →)
🐝 Thinking about ordering bees? The best time to order is in January & February, but if you haven’t yet, act fast to secure native Irish bees.
📚 Beginner’s Tip – Join a Beekeeping Association
📍 Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association – Visit Site
📍 Irish Beekeepers Association CLG – Visit Site
📍 Native Irish Honey Bee Society – Visit Site
🌸 Looking Ahead to April – What’s Next?
🌼 Preparing for the first nectar flow – Early sources like willow, dandelions, and fruit blossoms
🛠 Spring hive maintenance – Replacing frames & expanding colonies
🐝 Swarm prevention tips – What to watch for as temperatures rise
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! 🐝