Wombat Way field guide
Southern Tablelands Spring Beekeeping Checklist
Spring rewards preparation. Use this practical checklist to move from winter observation to confident colony management without rushing the bees.
1. Check from the outside first
- Confirm the hive is level, stable and protected from standing water.
- Check the entrance for clear flight space and unusual crawling or fighting.
- Look for purposeful flight and returning pollen during suitable weather.
2. Prepare for the first inspection
- Choose a calm, warm window and avoid opening a colony in cold, wet conditions.
- Clean and prepare the smoker, hive tool, spare boxes and protective equipment.
- Have a notebook ready for queen, brood, stores, temperament and disease observations.
3. Assess colony strength and stores
- Confirm the colony has a healthy laying pattern and enough adult bees to cover the brood.
- Check that food stores match the colony size and local weather outlook.
- Avoid adding space simply because the calendar says spring has arrived; match space to bees.
4. Get ahead of swarming
- Inspect for congestion, queen cells and a rapidly expanding brood nest.
- Make sure spare equipment is ready before the colony reaches a critical point.
- Record colony strength so decisions are based on its progress, not guesswork.
5. Monitor pests and disease
- Set a clear monitoring baseline and keep records for every colony.
- Use only legal, label-compliant treatments and follow current NSW guidance.
- Do not move frames, boxes or equipment between yards without proper biosecurity controls.
2026 queen programme
Three gentle lines, selected with purpose
Caucasian × Carniolian
Gentle and highly vigorous, with strong spring build-up. May be more reactive in windy conditions.
Russian × Caucasian
Gentle, strong-building and surprisingly difficult to annoy under normal working conditions.
Pure Carniolian
Especially gentle with steady development. Our current focus includes producing healthy drones for the mating apiary.
All breeder queens descend directly from Joe Horner genetics and are open-mated in our Carniolian apiary. These are expected profiles, not guarantees: colony behaviour varies with conditions, genetics and management.
Keep the next inspection in view
Spring conditions can change quickly across the Southern Tablelands. Keep records, review the colony again at the next suitable window, and adjust management to what the bees are showing you.