Nov 68 min read

When Is It Too Late to Feed Your Bees for Winter?

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures start to drop, beekeepers everywhere are faced with a critical question: when is it too late to feed their bees for the upcoming winter? Ensuring your colonies have adequate food stores is one of the most important tasks for any beekeeper, as it can mean the difference between a thriving hive and a devastating loss.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into the essential factors to consider when it comes to late-season feeding, from assessing your bees' current stores to choosing the right type of supplemental bee fee for winter. Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or just starting out, these tips will help you make the best decisions for your hives as winter approaches.

I am not a fan of using open feeders. It can cause MAJOR robbing!

Assessing Your Bees' Food Stores

The first step in determining if it's too late to feed your bees in winter is to thoroughly evaluate their current food stores. This can be done in a few different ways:]

Hive Weighing

One of the most effective methods is to use a luggage scale to weigh your hives. This gives you a precise measurement of the total weight, which can then be compared to your target weight for a healthy, well-fed colony. As a general rule, a strong hive should weigh around 60-90 pounds (27-41 kg) going into winter although this depends on the material the beehive is made of. I personally use 35kg as the benchmark for a well fed poly hive and 40kg for a well fed cedar beehive. However, I use Buckfast bees and they tend to require a bit more feed than local mongrels. See what works for you and repeat each year. 35kg is safe benchmark though.

Visual Inspection

You can also perform a visual inspection of the frames, looking for the presence of capped honey stores. However, keep in mind that this method is less reliable, as bees may have honey stores hidden in hard-to-see areas of the hive. It's best to use this in conjunction with hive weighing for a more accurate assessment. It's also VERY risky to do this late in the season as you can squish the queen and the colony will then fail. I do NOT recommend it!

A full frame of stores but DO NOT open your hives this late in the year!

Hefting the Hive

Another technique is to simply "heft" the hive, or lift it from the bottom to gauge its weight. While not as precise as using a scale, this can give you a good general sense of whether the hive is light, heavy, or somewhere in between. Experienced beekeepers often develop a keen sense for this through practice.

Regardless of the method you choose, the key is to regularly monitor your hives throughout the fall and early winter months. This will allow you to identify any colonies that may be running low on stores and need supplemental feeding before it's too late. Don't just feed and forget. Continue to monitor weight at regular intervals all the way throughout autumn and winter.

When Should You Stop Feeding Bees In Winter?

The timing for when to stop feeding your bees can vary depending on a few critical factors:

When The Hive Is FULL

It goes without saying, once you reach your target weight, you can stop feeding bees in winter and then continue to weigh and heft to monitor the level of stores. This should be your prime indicator of when to stop feeding. Other factors below will help guide when it's possible to continue feeding.

A full National poly hive with bees and stores is around 35kg

Temperature

Bees are highly sensitive to temperature, and their ability to process and store liquid feed decreases as the mercury drops. As a general rule, you'll want to stop feeding liquid syrup when night time temperatures consistently dip below 50°F (10°C). At this point, the bees may have trouble processing the syrup, which could lead to issues like fermentation or mold. However, if your bees are in poly hives they can continue to process 2:1 syrup as the temperature decreases. For example, it's early November in the UK at the moment. Today was an 11c and 5c night time low. The bees happily guzzled a whole feeder of invert syrup in 48hrs! It's definitely not too late to feed syrup now in the UK.

My FAVOURITE feeder/crown board - The Poly Ashforth Feeder

Brood Rearing

Another important consideration is the bees' brood rearing activity. As the colony transitions into winter mode, they'll begin to wind down brood production. Feeding too late in the season can disrupt this natural process and cause the bees to continue rearing brood, which can deplete their precious food stores.

Bees can raise brood through Aug - Nov, even December !

Regional Differences

The optimal timing for stopping fall feeding can also vary depending on your geographic location and local climate. Beekeepers in warmer regions may be able to continue feeding liquid syrup well into November or even December, while those in colder climates may need to finish feeding much earlier or even switch to a solid feed if the bees are clustering and still not up to weight.

As a general guideline, most experts recommend wrapping up liquid feeding by the end of October or early November, depending on your local conditions. This gives the bees ample time to process and store the syrup before winter sets in. From there, you can transition to solid feed as needed to ensure your colonies have the resources they require to survive the cold months ahead.

Try to finish syrup feeding by end of Oct/early Nov

TOP TIP - aim to feed your bees up to weight exclusively on syrup with the last few feeds of invert or 2:1 only. 1:1 can be used for the first few feeds. Avoid fondant wherever possible and only feed in an emergency if the bees are light and not just in case they need.

Avoiding Robbing and Overfeeding

While ensuring your bees have enough food is crucial, it's also important to be mindful of potential issues that can arise from late-season feeding, such as robbing and overfeeding.

Robbing

As the natural nectar sources dwindle in the fall, your bees may become more aggressive in their efforts to acquire food. This can lead to increased robbing behaviour, where stronger colonies will try to steal resources from weaker ones. To prevent this, it's important to be cautious when opening hives and feeding, as the scent of syrup or fondant can attract unwanted attention from neighbouring colonies.

Some strategies to mitigate robbing include:

- Feeding during the cooler parts of the day, when bees are less active

- Using robbing screens or entrance reducers to limit access to the hive

- Feeding in the evening, when most foraging activity has ceased

- Ensuring any spilled or excess feed is cleaned up promptly

Overfeeding

On the other end of the spectrum, it's also possible to overdo it when it comes to late-season feeding. Providing too much supplemental food can lead to issues like:

- Clogged brood nests, which can disrupt the colony's natural winter preparations

- Excessive honey storage in the wrong parts of the hive, making it difficult for the bees to access their stores

- Increased risk of moisture build-up and mould growth within the hive

To avoid overfeeding, it's crucial to carefully monitor your hives and adjust the amount of feed accordingly. Start with smaller quantities of 1:1 syrup and closely observe how quickly the bees are consuming it. If they're clearing it out quickly, you can gradually increase the amount. But if it's sitting untouched, it's a sign you may have provided too much.

Top feeders work well and keep the syrup confined to the hive

Early in the autumn bees will turn 1:1 syrup into brood and bees, which is a good thing. It's easy to overfeed at this point and clog the nest with syrup which restricts the amount of brood that can be raised. Little and often (trickle feeding) is perfect for August and September (even early Oct). As you progress through Oct (in the UK), I switch to invert syrup and its much harder to overfeed at this point as there will be much less brood in the colony and the requirement to produce brood is much decreased.

I always use invert or 2:1 for the final feeds of the year

Choosing the Right Feed for the Season

As the weather cools and your bees feeding needs change, you'll need to adjust the type of supplemental feed you provide. Here are some of the best options for late-season feeding:

Liquid Syrup

In the early fall, when temperatures are still relatively mild, liquid sugar syrup can be an effective way to boost your bees food stores. 1:1 ratio of sugar to water is best for early autumn feeding and it as this will be easier for the bees to process and consume. It also helps simulate a flow, which stimulates the queen, which keeps the number of bees high (vs varroa), which is very helpful at this point in the year. I treat using Apivar at the same time as feeding 1:1 syrup. Around mid Oct I switch to 2:1 or invert for the final few feeds of the year to build up the winter weight.

You can make syrup at home but DON'T boil it!

However, as mentioned earlier, you'll want to stop feeding liquid syrup once night time temperatures consistently dip below 50°F (5-8°C). At this point, the bees may have trouble processing the syrup, leading to issues like fermentation or mould. Ideally you want to aim to have your bees up to weight for winter by this point and no further feeding should be required. If your bees aren't up to weight but they are not taking syrup as it's too cold, you can then switch to fondant.

Wait for syrup to cool before adding to beehives. Anything below 40c is fine

Fondant

When the weather turns colder, solid feed like fondant becomes a more suitable option. Fondant is a high-sugar, low-moisture candy that the bees can easily access and consume, even in freezing temperatures.

To feed fondant, you can simply place a large slab directly on top of the frames, under the inner cover (or insulated poly feeder). Some beekeepers also like to use a fondant feeder for a more controlled delivery. Just be sure to insulate the top of the hive to retain heat and prevent the fondant from hardening.

Use fondant with Glucose Syrup, Sugar and Water only

Candy Boards

Another solid feed option is a candy board, which is essentially a wooden frame filled with a sugar-based candy mixture. These can be placed directly on top of the hive, providing a readily available food source for the bees throughout the winter.

Candy boards offer the advantage of being less messy than loose fondant, and they can also help insulate the hive. However, they do require a bit more preparation, as you'll need to make the candy mixture and assemble the board before placing it on the hive.

In the UK candy boards are rarely used as fondant is readily accessible and in my opinion, superior to candy boards.

Regardless of which solid feed you choose, the key is to provide it in ample quantities to ensure your bees have enough to sustain them through the winter. As a general rule, a colony should have access to at least 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) of stored food going into the cold months. If you are light, feed at least 6kg of fondant at each interval, which is half a 12.5kg Bako slab.

Conclusion

Ensuring your bees have adequate food stores for the winter is one of the most critical tasks for any beekeeper. By regularly monitoring your hives, choosing the right type of feed, and implementing effective late-season feeding strategies, you can help set your colonies up for success during the cold months ahead.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to feeding bees. The optimal timing and methods will depend on your local climate, hive types, and the specific needs of your colonies. Stay vigilant, be adaptable, and don't hesitate to reach out for guidance from experienced beekeepers.

With the right preparation and care, your bees can weather the winter and emerge stronger than ever, ready to take on the new beekeeping season. Happy feeding, and best of luck to you and your hives!

Getting your bees ready for winter is the best feeling

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