Beekeeping FAQs for British Columbia | BCBeeSupply.ca

Beginner Beekeeping FAQ (Top 25 Questions for New BC Beekeepers)

 

 

1. Should I start with one beehive box or multiple boxes?

Start with one deep Langstroth brood box when installing a bee package or nucleus colony. Add a second box only after 7–8 frames are drawn with comb.

2. When is the best time to install bees in BC?

The ideal time to start a beehive in British Columbia is between late April and early May, depending on your region’s temperature and spring bloom timing.

3. How much space do honeybees need when starting out?

Begin with a single deep hive body. Adding too much space too early can slow down comb building and stress the colony.

4. My bees are clustering on the front of the hive — are they swarming?

This behavior, known as bearding, is common during hot days and is not always a sign of swarming. Check for queen cells and brood congestion to confirm.

5. What is a bee swarm and should I be concerned?

Swarming is a natural part of bee colony reproduction. In BC, most swarms occur between May and July. Prevent swarming by providing space and managing brood congestion.

6. Why are my bees building comb in the wrong places?

Cross-combing or burr comb often results from too much space or improperly spaced frames. Keep frames tightly pushed together.

7. How can I tell if my hive has a queen?

You don’t need to see the queen. Look for eggs, larvae, and a consistent brood pattern — these indicate the queen is present and laying.

8. Do I need to requeen my hive every year?

Not necessarily. Many queens remain productive for 2+ years. Requeen if your hive becomes aggressive, unproductive, or queenless.

9. When should I harvest honey in BC?

Most beekeepers in BC harvest honey between mid-July and early August, once honey frames are at least 80% capped.

10. How do I extract honey from my hive?

Use a bee escape board, fume board, or brush bees off frames. Extract using a honey extractor or crush-and-strain method.

11. Do I have to treat for Varroa mites in BC?

Yes. All hives in Canada have Varroa destructor mites. Regular monitoring and treatment are essential to colony survival.

12. When should I treat for mites in British Columbia?

Treat twice yearly:

• After honey harvest (August–September)
  
  

• During the broodless window (November–December) using oxalic acid vaporization.
  
  

13. What’s the best Varroa mite treatment in Canada?

There’s no universal best. Treatments include Formic Pro, Apivar, and oxalic acid vaporization. Choose based on your management style, timing, and climate.

14. How do I test for mites in a beehive?

Use the alcohol wash or sugar shake method. Sample 300 bees from the brood nest and count the number of mites present.

15. When should I feed my bees in BC?

Feed in early spring to support buildup, and again in fall to prepare for overwintering.

16. When should I stop feeding my bees?

Stop spring feeding once natural nectar is abundant. Stop fall feeding when daytime temperatures drop below 10°C.

17. Should I use pollen patties in early spring?

Only if natural pollen is scarce. Use caution — overfeeding can lead to swarming.

18. What sugar syrup ratio should I use?

• Spring: 1:1 (light syrup) to stimulate brood
  
  

• Fall: 2:1 (heavy syrup) to build winter food reserves
  
  

19. How do I install and use a pollen trap?

Attach it at the hive entrance during a major pollen flow. Remove and clean regularly to avoid stress.

20. Why would I collect pollen from my bees?

Pollen traps allow you to collect bee pollen for personal use, sale, or supplementing weaker colonies.

21. Can I run a pollen trap all year?

No. Use only during spring/summer when fresh pollen is abundant. Year-round use stresses the colony.

22. What is the best hive tool for beekeepers?

Personal preference varies. Many beginners use the J-hook hive tool or the standard pry-bar style.

23. How many hives should I start with?

We recommend starting with two hives. It allows you to compare colony health and swap resources if needed.

24. What is robbing and how do I prevent it?

Robbing occurs when bees from one colony steal honey from another. Prevent it by reducing entrances and avoiding spills during feeding.

25. Do I need to register my bees in British Columbia?

Yes. It is mandatory to register your hives with the BC Ministry of Agriculture under the Animal Health Act to monitor disease and outbreaks.

 

Advanced Beekeeping FAQ – For Experienced Beekeepers in British Columbia

 

 

 

1. How do I manage swarm risk in high-producing colonies?

Implement swarm control by reversing boxes in spring, adding supers early, equalizing brood across colonies, and removing swarm cells every 7–10 days.

2. Is it better to split hives before or after the main nectar flow in BC?

In BC, splitting before the main honey flow (late May to early June) allows new colonies time to build up, but splitting after the flow (late July) reduces honey production pressure.

3. What’s the best way to monitor queen quality over time?

Track egg-laying patterns, brood consistency, and colony temperament. Queens older than two seasons often show declining productivity or increased swarming.

4. How often should I requeen my hives?

Many BC beekeepers requeen every 12–18 months, especially in commercial setups. Requeening in late summer reduces winter mortality and spring requeening costs.

5. How do I successfully introduce a new queen into an aggressive or queenless hive?

Use a push-in cage or frame of emerging brood to ease acceptance. Delay introduction 24–48 hours after removing the old queen.

6. Is single or double brood box management better in BC?

Both systems work. Single brood box management with intense monitoring is gaining popularity for efficiency, while double brood boxes allow for more food and brood storage.

7. Can I overwinter a hive in a single deep box in British Columbia?

Yes, but only if bees have 80–100 lbs of honey and a tight brood nest. Use proper insulation and ensure ventilation to reduce moisture buildup.

8. What’s the ideal fall feeding strategy for overwintering in BC?

Start feeding 2:1 syrup in early September until bees stop taking it. Consider adding a fondant patty in late fall as insurance.

9. What’s the best overwintering wrap for hives in BC’s wet climate?

Use breathable moisture-reducing wraps like Bee Cozy or custom-insulated foam setups. Add a ventilation shim to allow moisture to escape.

10. What temperature range is ideal for oxalic acid vaporization?

Oxalic acid vaporization is most effective between 4°C and 10°C during broodless periods (usually November to January in BC).

11. Can I do oxalic acid vaporization with brood in the hive?

Yes, but effectiveness is reduced. Repeating 3–5 treatments at 5-day intervals can help catch emerging mites.

12. How do I rotate mite treatments without causing resistance?

Use a treatment rotation plan: e.g., Apivar in spring, Formic Pro in summer, oxalic acid in fall/winter. Rotate active ingredients (amitraz, formic, oxalic).

13. How do I recover a hive with high mite load in late summer?

Remove honey supers, treat immediately (Formic Pro or oxalic), reduce stress, and feed syrup to stimulate recovery before fall.

14. What is brood break treatment and how does it work?

Caging the queen or splitting the hive halts brood production temporarily. This creates a window where oxalic acid treatment is highly effective.

15. Why are my bees ignoring my syrup or protein patties?

If natural forage is abundant, bees may ignore supplements. Also check for robbing pressure, queenlessness, or environmental stress.

16. What’s the difference between summer and fall pollen sources in BC?

Summer forage includes clover, fireweed, and alfalfa. Fall forage (goldenrod, asters) has less protein and can ferment—monitor for dysentery risks.

17. Why is my fall brood spotty or declining?

Common causes include high mite levels, failing queens, poor nutrition, or late-season pesticide exposure.

18. How do I equalize colonies before winter?

Combine weak colonies, swap brood and resources between hives, and equalize stores in late September for uniform overwintering success.

19. Should I insulate the bottom board or leave it open for airflow?

Most BC beekeepers use solid or tray bottom boards in winter with upper ventilation to manage moisture and heat retention.

20. When is the best time to combine weak hives in BC?

Late September is ideal. Use the newspaper method and ensure the combined colony has enough stores and one good queen.

21. How do I prevent condensation in overwintered hives?

Add ventilation shims, upper entrances, and absorbent materials (e.g. quilt boxes or moisture boards) to wick away water.

22. How do I know if my bees made it through winter successfully?

Check on warmer days above 5°C. Look for bee activity at the entrance, and gently lift the hive to assess weight (light = feed emergency sugar).

23. What is the best method for emergency winter feeding?

Use fondant, dry sugar bricks, or candy boards directly on the top bars inside the inner cover.

24. When should I unwrap or open hives in spring in BC?

Remove wraps when daily highs consistently stay above 10°C (usually late March to early April). Open briefly to assess colony condition.

25. What is chalkbrood and how do I treat it?

Chalkbrood is a fungal disease common in cool, damp climates like BC. Improve ventilation, requeen, and avoid disturbing brood frames.

26. How do I test for Nosema in British Columbia?

Collect a sample of 30 bees and send to the BC Provincial Apiculture Lab or perform a microscopic spore count at home.

27. Can I raise my own queens in BC?

Yes. Queen rearing is viable in May–July, especially in the Okanagan or Interior where weather is more stable. Use grafting or walk-away splits.

28. What drone congregation areas exist in BC?

While not mapped publicly, DCAs exist near apiaries with established drone populations. Time queen flights on sunny afternoons with low wind.

29. Can I use essential oils as mite treatment?

Essential oils like thymol (Apiguard) are approved in Canada, but dosage must be precise. Avoid homemade treatments — they can harm bees.

30. What recordkeeping is required for BC beekeepers?

BC beekeepers must record treatment usage, hive locations, and livestock movement under provincial regulations. Keep logs for inspections and audits.

31. Can I sell my honey at farmers markets or retail in BC?

Yes. If under 50 hives, most BC regions allow direct-to-consumer sales without a licensed facility. Check your local health authority for packaging rules.

32. How can I scale from hobbyist to small commercial in BC?

Plan for growth by investing in a honey house, queen stock, transportation, and disease protocols. Overwinter successfully to build colony numbers affordably.

33. What are the most productive honey plants in British Columbia?

Fireweed (Interior), clover (Fraser Valley), and wildflower mixes (Island) are top nectar sources. Blackberry and raspberry offer strong mid-season forage.

34. How do I identify pesticide kills vs. natural bee losses?

Pesticide kills often involve mass death near entrances, twitching bees, and lack of foragers. Send bee samples to labs if you suspect exposure.

35. How can I reduce queen losses during transport or introduction?

Ship in temperature-controlled conditions, avoid excess jostling, and allow colonies to calm before introducing new queens with slow-release cages.