Introduction
The buzz surrounding honeybees often focuses on their summertime activities: pollinating crops, creating delicious honey, and generally contributing to the health of our ecosystems. However, the harsh reality is that a significant percentage of bee colonies don’t make it through the winter. Colony losses are a major concern for beekeepers, and ensuring adequate winter food is a crucial aspect of helping these vital pollinators survive. Bees require a substantial store of provisions to fuel them through the cold months. This article will guide you through the essentials of providing sufficient winter food for your bees, emphasizing the importance of understanding their needs, accurately assessing existing stores, and responsibly supplementing their diet when necessary. By taking proactive steps, beekeepers can significantly improve their colonies’ chances of thriving until springtime.
The Critical Role of Winter Sustenance for Bees
Unlike many insects that hibernate and enter a state of dormancy during winter, honeybees remain active within their hive. They form a dense cluster, vibrating their flight muscles to generate heat and maintain a consistent temperature in the core of the cluster. This continuous activity demands a significant amount of energy. Honey serves as the primary energy source, providing the carbohydrates needed to power the bees’ shivering. This fuel is literally their lifeline during long periods of cold weather when foraging is impossible.
While honey is essential for energy, pollen provides the vital proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that bees need for brood rearing and overall health. In late winter and early spring, the queen will begin laying eggs, initiating a new generation of bees. The adult bees need protein reserves to feed the developing larvae. A lack of pollen stores can weaken the colony, making them more susceptible to diseases and reducing their ability to expand in the spring. Therefore, both honey and pollen are crucial for a colony’s winter survival and spring build-up.
The consequences of insufficient food stores are dire. Starvation is a leading cause of winter colony losses. When bees run out of honey, they become weak and unable to maintain the cluster’s temperature. The colony can slowly dwindle and eventually perish from cold and starvation. A colony stressed by hunger is also more vulnerable to diseases like nosema and varroa mites. Therefore, ensuring adequate winter food is not just about survival; it’s about setting the colony up for a healthy and productive spring.
Evaluating Available Honey Reserves
Determining if your bees have enough food for winter is a critical step that must be performed before the colder months arrive. The ideal time to assess your honey stores is in late summer or early fall, after the main honey flow has ended and before the weather turns consistently cold. Performing an assessment at this time gives the beekeeper enough time to implement a feeding strategy for the winter.
There are several methods for estimating the amount of honey stored in the hive. One approach is to weigh the hive. A full hive will be significantly heavier than one with depleted stores. However, this method requires specialized equipment and can be challenging for larger hives.
A more common method is to estimate the honey stores by observing the number of frames that are fully capped with honey. A Langstroth deep frame completely covered with capped honey typically contains several pounds of honey. Most beekeepers agree that a strong colony in a double deep hive body requires about sixty to eighty pounds of stored honey to survive the winter in temperate climates. A colony in a single deep hive body should have at least forty to sixty pounds of honey. Local resources are helpful to find accurate estimates for specific climates.
When assessing the hive, also pay attention to the location of the honey stores. Ideally, the honey should be located in the upper hive body, easily accessible to the bees when they cluster. If the honey is primarily in the lower hive body, the bees may struggle to reach it during cold weather.
Exploring Options for Winter Bee Nourishment
When it comes to winter feeding, honey is undoubtedly the gold standard. It’s the bees’ natural food source, perfectly balanced with the carbohydrates, amino acids, and micronutrients they need. If a colony has sufficient honey stores, it’s best to leave it undisturbed. However, when stores are low, beekeepers need to intervene with supplemental feeding.
Sugar syrup is the most common supplemental food for bees. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to prepare. A heavier syrup, with a ratio of two parts sugar to one part water, is ideal for winter feeding. This concentration more closely resembles honey and is less likely to ferment. Sugar syrup can be provided using various types of feeders, such as frame feeders (inserted directly into the hive), top feeders (placed above the frames), or even inverted jars with small holes in the lid.
Candy boards are another excellent option for winter feeding, especially during late winter when bees are starting to rear brood. A candy board is a solid block of sugar candy that sits on top of the hive frames, providing a direct source of carbohydrates. Candy boards are relatively easy to make at home using a recipe that typically involves granulated sugar, water, and a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice to help prevent crystallization.
In addition to carbohydrates, bees also need protein, especially during late winter and early spring brood rearing. Pollen patties or pollen substitutes can be used to provide this essential nutrient. These patties are typically made from a combination of ingredients like soy flour, brewer’s yeast, and sugar syrup. It is best to research pollen patty recipes that contain ingredients that are beneficial for bees. The best ingredients are raw and organic and easy for the bees to digest. Pollen patties should be placed directly on top of the frames, close to the bee cluster.
Strategies for Effective Winter Feeding Practices
Timing is everything when it comes to winter feeding. If supplemental feeding is necessary, begin in the late summer or early fall, giving the bees ample time to consume the syrup and convert it into stored honey. Avoid feeding sugar syrup too late in the fall, as the bees may not be able to process it before the weather turns too cold.
The quantity of food to provide depends on the size of the colony and the severity of the winter. A general guideline is to provide enough supplemental food to bring the total honey stores up to the recommended level. For example, if a colony is estimated to be short twenty pounds of honey, provide enough sugar syrup or candy boards to make up the difference.
While providing food is essential, also remember the importance of water. Bees need water to dilute honey and regulate the hive’s humidity. Provide a water source near the hive, especially on warmer winter days when the bees may be able to fly.
Preventing robbing is crucial during feeding. Robbing occurs when bees from other colonies try to steal honey from a weaker hive. To prevent robbing, use entrance reducers to make it more difficult for robber bees to enter the hive. Avoid spilling syrup when feeding, and clean up any spills immediately.
Moisture buildup is another common problem in winter hives. Excess moisture can lead to mold and diseases. Ensure adequate ventilation in the hive to allow moisture to escape.
Constant Monitoring and Adjustments to Bee Feeding
Winter bee care doesn’t stop once feeding has begun. Beekeepers should monitor their colonies throughout the winter. Regularly check food stores to ensure that the bees have enough to eat. On warmer days, lift the lid of the hive and quickly observe the amount of honey remaining on the frames.
If you observe signs of starvation, such as bees clustered near the top of the hive with no honey in sight, take immediate action. Provide a readily available source of sugar syrup or a candy board directly on top of the frames.
Be prepared to adjust your feeding strategy based on the weather and the colony’s activity. During mild winters, the bees may consume more honey than usual. Be prepared to provide additional food if necessary.
Conclusion
Ensuring adequate winter food is arguably the most important step in helping your bees survive and thrive. By understanding their nutritional needs, accurately assessing existing stores, and implementing responsible feeding practices, you can significantly increase your colonies’ chances of making it through the winter and emerging strong and healthy in the spring. Take the time to prepare your bees for the winter. You can improve their chances of survival and contribute to the overall health of our environment. The effort you put in during the fall will be rewarded with thriving colonies and abundant honey for years to come.
