The first task in spring is to check the hive floors. This is done on a day when the temperature has come above 10 - 12 degrees Celsius. Usually the floors have a layer of dead bees, wax particles and any other gunk accumulated during the winter months. If this is not removed, it may block the entrance so that the bees can't get out.

Another thing we do is to close the air vents in the floors. At the time when the bees start finding pollen and bringing it back to the hives, the queen will start egg laying, and if there suddenly is a cold dip in the temperature, it may kill the brood. Therefore we close the air stream from below, in order to make it easier for the bees to maintain the temperature in the hives.