In January, the bees continue to cluster, flying only on sunny days when it is 50 degrees or warmer. The queen begins to lay eggs, and brood rearing begins in the largest, healthiest hives. In warm years, the foragers may be able to collect some pollen.

If you want to push for more bees, or a larger honey crop, you can consider feeding pollen substitutes again. Make sure that the hives are still heavy with honey, and that the cluster is in contact with the honey. Protein stimulation this early will get strong hives to swarm or split strength earlier in the season, so be careful.

Adapted from a presentation by John Jacob from Old Sol Apiary and reprinted with permission.

• In general disturb your bees as little as possible.
• If you are concerned about starvation, lift the back of the hive to assess its weight. Provide emergency feed to featherweight colonies. Drivert sugar or sugar bricks may be your best option (See Winter Feeding). Pollen patties will stimulate brood production, so don’t use unless you are planning to split your hives or boost honey production. If you feed pollen now, you will need to support your hives until there is enough forage.
• Brood rearing and metabolism increase at this time of year which adds to hive moisture, so make sure lids are water tight, that hives are tilted so water drains away, and that there is sufficient ventilation. Consider adding a super with a screen bottom of wood shavings or other absorbent material above the inner cover in the fall. In our climate, it is not the cold that kills bees, but the wet – especially internal condensation.
• Make periodic checks of your apiary, especially after a wind storm to make sure nothing is amiss. Use straps or rocks to hold down the covers.
• Prepare for next month’s tasks – in the past we have always recommended treating for foulbrood and varroa mites in February. I know some begin these treatments at the end of January if weather allows.
• For the non procrastinators, this is a good time to assemble hive components while there is not much else to do.
• If you have don’t it already, order your queens and nucs now. Check out our local sources for bees.

Adapted from Oregon State Beekeepers January advice