So far, our winter has been very mild. This might seem like a good thing for our bees, but it can come with a downside. Bees will be more active and out foraging but if there is not much in the environment for them, they might be using a lot of energy and not really getting a return on it. This makes it important to check on bees to make sure they still have plenty of resources in their hive.
The easiest way to do this is to lift the back of the hive to see how heavy it is.
It is also very important to be vigilant about varroa mite. If a hive seems to be struggling a bit, it might be worth doing an alcohol wash to check for mite. Getting a treatment in sooner could save your hive and get them through to spring.
I hope everyone’s hives are doing well and thriving.