Ensure adequate honey stores or supplement feed

Verify colonies have 60-90 lb (27-41 kg) of stored honey heading into winter, depending on climate severity. Colonies that run out of food before spring nectar flows begin will starve -- starvation is one of the top three causes of winter loss.

How to Assess

• Heft test: Lift one side of the hive from the back -- a full deep frame holds roughly 6-8 lb (2.7-3.6 kg) of capped honey
• A full deep Langstroth box of honey weighs approximately 80-90 lb (36-41 kg) total
• Northern climates (USDA zones 3-5): colonies need 80-90 lb of stores
• Moderate climates (zones 6-7): 60-70 lb is typically sufficient

Supplemental Feeding

• Feed 2:1 sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water by weight) in September-October while bees can still process and cap it
• Switch to fondant or sugar bricks once temperatures drop below 10°C (50°F), as bees cannot dehydrate liquid syrup in cold weather
• Place fondant directly above the cluster on the top bars for easy access

Tips

• Do not feed thin (1:1) syrup in fall -- it contains too much water and bees waste energy evaporating it
• Stop liquid feeding before the first hard frost to prevent excess moisture in the hive
• A colony consuming fondant in January may need emergency feeding -- check stores on warm days above 10°C