Spring Time Preperations.

[KONASDAD]

As a newbie, I know that i need to insure my bees have enough food, room and be disease free before adding spring supers. My question is, What is the timing of these three events? My hives feel about 40lbs in heavy hive, and about 25lbs on the small one. I definately have mite issues as they exploded in our unseasonably warm January, and i want to "feed" in small cell foundation as my old frames are old and were used by a commercial beek(lots of chemicals) and i want to get all of my hives up and running w/ newer frames and foundation. What are the signs to begin adding a sugar board, pollen patties, medicine, reversing hive bodies and adding new frames/foundation?

[Kirk-o]

Spring time is a good sign.Early spring is a good sign
kirk-o

[pdmattox]

I would start the feeding a month before a major bloom or flow.  I would also start treatment when feeding starts. As they build up you can start to rotate the new frames in.  Not sure about the sugar board as i don't use it but would sugest a thin syrup mix to simulate the nectar flow.  hope this helps.

[Finsky]

As a newbie, I know that i need to insure my bees have enough food, room and be disease free before adding spring supers. My question is, What is the timing of these three events?

It depends totally how big is your colony and how it developes further. That is the main issue in beekeeping: to see what to do. To do everything to every hive is not necessary. Just what hive needs. There is no general timing. - At least on hobby level. With 500 hives you must operate with standard.