You'll have better success with introducing queens, rearing queens, doing splits, etc., if there is a nectar flow. Middle of February here. Keep in mind, when there is nectar flow and drones in the hives, that is time for splits and queens. There won't be any drones here, but I'll add drone combs in mid Feb so drones will start producing and then do splits first of March. Middle Feb is starting of Almond bloom here.