With March being a tense time of year for beekeepers, they have nursed their colonies through a long, wet winter and are now waiting anxiously to see how strong they really are.

Ethel Irvine of Fermanagh Beekeepers said that last summer, with its long spells of sunny days, provided bees with a great boost. At the end of August 2013, the bees were checked for disease, treated for varroa and fed.

“We ensured that young queens headed the colonies wherever possible. This meant that there were plenty of young bees going into winter. This is important because, while summer bees live for only six weeks because of their work loads, winter bees must survive for six months and carry their colonies through until the queen is in full lay again in April, (weather dependent) and young bees strengthen the foraging forces. The warmer days in March give us an opportunity to assess roughly how hives are performing, by observing the entrance. Bees should be flying and carrying in pollen from, for example, crocus, spring flowering heathers and gorse, showing that brood rearing has indeed started, however tentatively.

“If no bees fly from a hive or if the traffic in and out of a particular seems heavy, do a quick check by lifting the crown board to see whether or not the colony is still alive. Large numbers flying in and out could indicate robbing. Such hives should be closed up immediately as it is not possible to know exactly why the bees died and we must prevent the possible spread of disease. Also, if any of the hives seem light it maybe because bees are consuming a lot of the stores during the warmer weather and now would be a good time to give them some fondant above the feed hole in the crown board.

“Soon the weather will be warm enough to take a longer look under the crown board to estimate the size of the brood nest. If there is any doubt about the progress of the colony, thin syrup (1kg sugar dissolved in 1litre of water) in a contact feeder can be given from the end of March onwards. Remember that it takes six weeks from the day on which the queen lays the egg for the bee to be ready to forage and the bees have to be high in numbers for the collection of nectar from spring flowers and trees blooming in the middle of May.

“The first full inspection should not be carried out until it is warm enough to go out in shirt sleeves. Brood chambers can be moved to one side without disturbing the bees, allowing floor boards, including open mesh floors, to be cleaned and scorched and the brood chamber is then replaced on its original site. Some beekeepers overwinter their bees with a super under the brood box and now is the time to remove it. Some of the wax in the frames may be mouldy. These frames are removed and destroyed and replaced with fresh frames. If bees are covering seven frames in the brood box, the super can be placed over a queen excluder on the brood box when the inspection is finished. Otherwise store the super until it is needed. Each frame in the brood box should be examined, using as little smoke as possible. Look at the size of the brood nest and the brood pattern and make notes in the hive records.” She reported that the Ulster Beekeepers’ Association 70th Annual Conference took place earlier in March when she said the speakers were excellent, with something to suit all levels of beekeeping. There were practical demonstrations of skep making, candle making and hive construction in addition to the many trade stands. As this was the 70th Conference, each Association was asked to put on a display to show how their own Association worked to help and educate its members and to reach out to those interested in bees. Joanne McNulty and Teresa McVeigh put together the Fermanagh stand, which was judged to be the winner. The display included, amongst other items, photographs, honey, wax, mead and recipes which used honey. The samples of fudge and cookies may have had an influence in attracting the many people who visited the stand! The Judge, Dan Basterfield, one of the main speakers at the Conference, said he he had chosen Fermanagh because it reflected a spirit of co-operation between members and displayed evidence of all the aims of the Association. The Association thanked and congratulated Joanne and Teresa.

The next meeting of Fermanagh Beekeepers will be tonight(Thursday), March 27 at 8pm in the Railway Hotel, Enniskillen. The speaker will be Jim Fletcher of Belfast Association.