Spring Buildup: Supporting the Colony Without Forcing It

Spring buildup is one of the most misunderstood phases of the honey bee colony’s annual cycle. Many management mistakes happen here—not because beekeepers

Frame with eggs in cells. Photo Credit: Lauren Bardell

don’t care, but because they expect explosive growth when the biology simply doesn’t work that way.

Spring buildup is linear, not exponential. Once the brood nest is initiated, colonies typically experience about 10–12 weeks of steady population growth. During this period, success depends on one simple equation: recruitment must exceed attrition. More bees must be born than die.

You Can’t Force Growth—But You Can Remove Limits

A queen’s egg-laying rate has a biological ceiling. During spring buildup, most healthy queens lay roughly 800–1,100 eggs per day. While beekeepers can’t make a queen exceed her capacity, they can ensure she’s not restricted.

The most common limiting factor is brood space. If a queen doesn’t have immediate access to open, drawn comb, her laying rate will slow—regardless of feeding. This is why inserting drawn comb into the brood nest and reversing boxes in two-deep overwintered colonies can be so effective. Bees prefer vertical brood expansion, and reversals restore that space naturally.

More Frames Don’t Equal More Bees

Another common misconception is that

Chart of brood coverages.

adding more brood frames automatically increases colony growth. In reality, most colonies cap brood production between 16,000 and 24,000 brood cells, regardless of overall adult population. This typically translates to about five to six brood frames at 70–75% coverage. Beyond that, protein availability, labor capacity, and temperature regulation become limiting—not space.

Feeding Should Match Biology

When environmental resources fall short, supplementation can help—but only when paired with adequate space.

• Carbohydrates: Spring feeding should use 1:1 sucrose syrup by weight. Sucrose breaks cleanly into glucose and fructose, the exact sugars needed for brood development.

• Protein: Developing bees require 10 essential amino acids. Missing even one prevents proper development. Protein patties should be formulated carefully, focusing on amino acid completeness—not just crude protein percentage.

  
  

Work With the Colony, Not Against It

Spring buildup exists for two biological reasons: colony-level reproduction (swarming) and building a workforce capable of storing enough honey for survival. Beekeepers who understand this cycle make better decisions—adding space when needed, feeding strategically, and avoiding unnecessary interventions.

The goal isn’t to force colonies into unnatural behavior. The goal is to remove barriers so colonies can do what they’re already designed to do—efficiently and on their own timeline.

This article is based on content from our Monthly Presentation Lectures, where we explore honey bee biology, colony ecology, and management decisions grounded in research and field experience. Members of The Beekeepers Academy receive access to live presentations, recordings, and extended Q&A each month based upon membership level.

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