Broodless period

[Hayseed]

I will be trying OA this spring. I've read that a good time to treat is during a broodless period. Also read, somewhere, that the colony is pretty much broodless in late winter/early spring and I should traet during a loose cluster with some movement.

Can someone help advise when this would be?

I live in Western New York in an area with a growing zone of 3 to 4.

Thanx,

Dale

[Michael Bush]

They generally have no brood (here) in October and November and sometimes December. Usually there is a little bit of brood from January on but not much. It would be better now than later in the spring when they have a lot of brood.

[Robert Brenchley]

I don't know about New York bees, but I opened UK hives regularly last winter, and found that the closest thing to broodlessness came at about New Year. They were never totally broodless.