Apiary work

• periodical visits (2 days/week/apiary);
• ice and snow removing from the entrances (without noise);
• preventing/repairing any disturbance of bee families as a results of animals and birds attack;
• auditory control of bee families;
• checking/removing the amount of dead bees on the cases floor  and hives entrance;
• verifying wind protections (where exist);
• check, prepare and administrate food supply (energetic cake or honey).

Workshop

• repairs of some beekeeping tools -> increasing their duration;
• deposit frames with wax combs in proper conditions (against mouse, wax moth);
• extraction and reconditioning of wax;
• new set of frames (each new case require: 10 frames * 1/1 and 20 frames *1/2);
• replacing of old/destroyed frames;
• new cases (assamble and paint);
• cleaning and disinfection of tools;
• making beekeeping inventory and preparing new year requirements.

February

 

 

Month of February appear some of most critical moments in apiculture: temperature inside beehive will rise to 25-35 Celsius, this mean that food consumption will increase twice.

Apiary work

• periodical visits (2-3 days/week/apiary);
• ice and snow removing from the entrances (without noise);
• preventing/repairing any disturbance;
• correct any abnormal situation, ensuring food;
• stimulating and supervising the bee cleaning flight;
• identification of sick families, determination of cause and straightening of these families (establishment of diagnosis by analyzes performed by specialized laboratories);
• unification of the orphan families.

Workshop

• extraction and reconditioning of wax -> used to be changed for artificial combs on next year;
• new set of frames (each new case require: 10 frames * 1/1 and 20 frames *1/2);
• replacing of old/destroyed frames;
• new cases (assamble and paint);
• cleaning and disinfection of apicultural inventory;
• prepare the equipment for honey extraction ;
• wax combs inventory -> replacing the old ones, preparing the good ones for the new harvesting season.

March

 

 

Month of March is characterized with weather changes(some years under 0 Celsius). First flowers will provide pollen to the bees that contribute to a good bee stimulation.

Apiary work

• performing a summative spring review (days of over 13 Celsius): check presence of the queen,  general state of hives, straightening orphanes, completing food supplies, equilibrate bee families;
• background revision (over 20 Celsius);
• hive protection against humidity;
• stimulation with food and PROTOFIL for immunity and empowerment, anti-varoa treatments, food suplying with proteic cake;
• add new frame/frames every week to extend the bee families;
• taking measures to prevent theft between bee families.

Workshop

• cleaning, disinfecting, repairing, repainting, painting the equipment that will be needed in the approaching season (centrifuges, hives, hive elements etc.);
• disinfection of hives and materials to be used in the future is mandatory;
• extended work for the new frames and cases, each new case require: 10 frames * 1/1 and 20 frames *1/2);
• replacing of old/destroyed frames;
• preparing bee families for harvesting season (bring each family to a level of development);
• preparing the documentation necessary for the pastoral movements.

April

 

 

Month of April is characterized by sudden changes of temperatures, Although the temperature is rising, cold periods may occur in this month, with rain or even short snowflakes.

Apiary work

• periodical visits(2-3 days/week/apiary);
• performing the re-view of the bee families;
• equilibrate the strenght of bee families (strengthening weaker families adding frames with eggs, unification);
• feeding the bee families, 500g /each 3 days;
• introducing new frames for egging at each 7 days (till case will be filled with 10 frames);
• pastoral movement to rapefield;
• repeated antivarroa treatments, before pastoral movement;
• theft prevention between bee families.

 

Workshop

• new frames to be created: 1/1 and 1/2, weaving frames and fixing the artificial combs;
• prepare the storages of hives and fill with 1/2 frames;
• prepare the tools required for honey harvesting;
• preparing bee families for harvesting season;
• announcement of mayoralties in the area where the hives are moved in order to protect our bees against possible phytosanitary treatments;
• preparing the transportation of the bee families in the pastoral.

May

 

 

Month of May is characterized by changing climate and increasing temperatures, bringing the nature to life. In this month are harvested: rapeseed and acacia 1.

Apiary work

• periodical visits (2-4 visits/week);
• widening the nest proportionally to the evolution of the harvest and the development of the bee family;
• take actions to corect undesirable situations: unification of weak families, helping with brood frames; replace the inappropriate queens;
• introduce new frames with artificial combs;
• rapeseed harvesting;
• pastoral movement from rapeseed to acacia 1;
• hives warehouses added in rapeseed harvest, with 1/2 frames.

Workshop

• new frames to be created: 1/1 and 1/2, weaving frames and fixing the artificial combs;
• new cases to be created, painted and filled with frames;
• checking, repairing, replacing faulty hives cases in order to withstand transport conditions;
• harvesting of rapeseed, warehouse organization;
• honey packing and delivery process;
• check and prepare the transport vehicle for next pastoral movements.

 

June

 

 

The targeted harvests in this month are acacia 2 and linden, followed by sun flower in the months of July and August.

 

Apiary work

• periodical visits (3-4 visits/week);
• ensuring the honey food for the bees between 2 harvests;
• harvesting and extraction of honeycombs;
• during harvesting, the control of the hives is reduced to a minimum, in order to avoid disturbing the bee families;
• replacing old frames with new ones;
• identification of pastoral areas, access roads, beehives transport;
• varroa checking, treatment is necessary ( at least 2 weeks prior to any harvesting to avoid the risk of pollution of harvested honey);
• prevent the natural swarming.

Workshop

• beehive equipment supply preparation (new frames 1/2 and 1/1);
• cleaning the equipment for honey extraction and prepare it for further use;
• new cases preparations;
• harvesting of linden and polyfloral honey;
• logistics/warehouse processes;
• packing/delivery processes;
• repair or replace of the old frames;
• wax obtained from bee families will be changed with artificial combs (that are required for the new frames).

 

July

 

 

In month of July, bee families are entering in the last period at his biological cycle. Main activity of the bees is to accumulate food reserves for winter period.

Apiary work

• periodical visits (3-4 visits/week);
• the harvesting and extraction of honeycombs;
• survey regarding health;
• measures to prevent theft between bee families;
• strengthening the weaker families that may be vulnerable;
• in the absence of maintenance harvests, incentive feeding will be given to maintain the bee families stronger and the growth of wintering bees;
• in this period, the old queens are replaced with young ones, carefully selected.

Workshop

• repair or replace the old frames;
• create new frames 1/1 to maintain a surplus margin;
• create new cases;
• cleaning, disinfecting, repairing, repainting, painting the beekeeping equipment;
• cleaning the equipment for honey extraction and prepare it for further use;
• prepare the locations for new apiaries (implementing new bee families);
• logistics/warehouse processes;
• packing/delivery processes.

 

August

 

In August, main focus is to prepare families for the growth of wintering bees, respecting the quality and quantity of food required. In the absence of harvests, additional stimulation feeding is needed – to stimulate the family and increase the wintering bees in sufficient quantity, and in the end of August and middle of September, feedings should be made in the case of insufficient reserves.

Apiary work

• periodical visits (3-4 visits/week);
• remove empty frames, equilizing the families, remove defect honeycombs;
• performing clinical examination of the bee families, perform any necessary treatments;
• removing honeycombs with honey;
• changing inappropriate queens;
• administering stimulation feeding for the growth of wintering bees;
• straining the cases entrances to avoid theft;
• harvesting of propolis or royal jelly;
• particular attention should be paid to Varroa infestation – treatments required.

Workshop

• cleaning, disinfecting, repairing, repainting cases;
• extraction and reconditioning of beewax;
• organize the frames that were take off from hives (cleaning and preparing to be stored for winter period);
• checking, repairing, replacing field faulty cases, moving bee families in new cases;
• cleaning, disinfecting, repairing the equipment that will be needed in the approaching season (centrifuges,hive elements etc.);
• logistics/warehouse processes;
• packing/delivery processes.

September

Starting with first autumn month, September, the bee family begins preparing for wintering, although the first signs were early, mid-August, when the removal of the drones from the hive begins. Bee populations begin to decline, the nest rests on the brood area, setting the space for the next winter. Beekeeper interventions: stimulating the production of wintering bees through stimulating feeding, as well as accumulating and concentrating the food resources needed for wintering, checking quantity and quality.

Apiary work

• resizing the bee families nests;
• ensuring food supplies;
• keep the darkest frames into the main nest (not old frames) – keep more warm into the nest in the winter;
• changing abnormal queens;
• strenghthen the weak famiies;
• straining the cases entrances to avoid the theft also put barrs to avoid the penetration of mice;
• prepare the cold night period adding protection over the podium (ropes or felt) and lateral packings;
• uniting weak families.

Workshop

• field periodical visits (3-4 visits/week/apiary) supporting beekeeping processes (feeding, restraining etc);
• conserving wax combs required for spring, that will be stored in special cabinets;
• conditioning wax and propolis;
• repairs, refurbishment, disinfection and painting of old equipment;
• creating/assembling new equipment (frames, hives, accessories);
• deposit frames with wax combs in proper conditions (against mouse, wax moth);
• logistics/warehouse processes;
• packing/delivery processes.

October

 

 

In the second month of autumn, October, are no longer blooming sources for harvesting, bees rarely come out from the hives, queens stop egging.

 

Apiary work

• periodical visits (2-3 visits/week/apiary);
• straining nests using diaphragms at a number of full frames occupied by bees;
• only the honeycombs covered with bees and at least 1.5 kg of honey will be left in the nest;
• making 2-3 anti-varroa treatments (are done accordingly with the instructions);
• ventilation of hives need to be provided;
• fixing the barrs avoiding mice penetration;
• thermal protection of the bee families, stronger families can be isolated in November, the weak families are isolated starting with October;
• apiary protection for strong winds.

Workshop

 

• sorting and reforming the wax combs;
• support different field requirements;
• melt the inappropriate combs/frames (old, broken, drone cells) and extract the wax ;
• controlling of the beekeeping tools and releasing them for repair;
• cleaning and disinfecting hives and machines released;
• logistics/warehouse processes;
• packing/delivery processes;
• harvesting season situation feedback.

November

 

Month of November, the last autumn month, is the time when the bee family, if it has not yet entered, will enter in hybernation, its behavior during the 5-6 months – as long as the cold season – is mainly defined by the agglomeration of bees in a swarm over the honey frames (having a spherical or ellipsoidal shape). If exist sunny days, bees can perform cleaning flights.

Apiary work

• periodical visits (2-3 visits/week/apiary);
• on favorable days need to be remediate abnormal conditions: inadequate food, low-quality food (can cause diarhea), queen loss, overstretched humidity, moss infiltration into the hives;
• for wintering, each family need to have 15 kg honey to pass the period, also 2 kg of beebread;
• mice bars verification;
• prevent excessive humidity ;
• unite bee families if necessary;
• stimulation for cleaning flights on sunny and warm days.

Workshop

• cleaning, disinfecting, repairing, repainting cases;
• extraction and reconditioning of beewax;
• organize the frames that were take off from hives (cleaning and preparing to be stored for winter period);
• checking, repairing, replacing any logistics auxiliars (metallic structures, platforms);
• cleaning, disinfecting, repairing the equipment that will be needed in the approaching season (centrifuges,hive elements etc.);
• logistics/warehouse processes;
• packing/delivery processes.

December

 

The first month of the winter, December, is usually seen with snow, wind, snow, frost and increased humidity. Although December is a period of inactivity in the bee’s biological cycle, having the opportunity to focus activities more on workshop activities, information and improvement activities in beekeeping sector or online  development activities.

Apiary work

• periodical visits (1-2 visits/week);
• presence of humidity check;
• prevention of disturbance factors (mice, pigeons and others);
• removing snow and ice from cases entrance keeping low the noise (not disturging the bee families);
• auditory control of bee families;
• checking/removing the amount of dead bees on the cases floor;
• facilitating and supervising spontaneous bee cleaning flights in the warm windows of the month (when the temperature exceeds 13-14ºC).

Workshop

 

 

• general situation feedback;
• prepare the requirements for next season;
• purchase of materials required for next season.