There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on your region and hive configuration; however, generally speaking bees should have sufficient stores to last them through winter without raiding other colonies for food or feeding other colonies directly.
Late summer and fall are often when forage availability begins to diminish, making it harder for bees to access resources they require for survival. That is when many beekeepers opt to feed.
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Bees Need Food
Ideal, our goal should be to minimize feedings and let bees produce their own natural nectar in the Fall – this would benefit all parties involved, especially consumers of honey who appreciate real nectar’s unique flavour and nutrients.
However, bees need extra food at certain key times during the year; spring being one such instance. Rain, cold nights and lack of foraging prevent bees from building comb and feeding brood properly, leaving weak colonies vulnerable to diseases, small hive beetles or winter die-off.
In such an emergency situation, providing your colony with sugar syrup feed will help them get back on track. We suggest using a division board feeder or frame feeder so bees can easily access their sugar without being disturbed; our standard mix ratio for spring feedings is 1:1 while in autumn it shifts up to 2:1.
Hive Weight
An ideal condition for a queen-right colony should include sufficient stored honey reserves to last through until their first nectar flow in early spring, otherwise running out too early can interrupt foraging, lead to swarming, and make fulfilling their maintenance duties challenging.
Reduce hive weight gradually; too drastic a drop can trigger robbing, attract pests and add excess moisture. But if necessary, feeding with sugar syrup might be done before cold weather sets in for good.
Feed the colony a 2:1 ratio sugar syrup that will increase store weight by about 5 lbs, recording its before and after weights (after taking out empty feeder jar, extra deep and outer cover).
Hive Nutrition
As autumn sets in, it is imperative that beekeepers assess hive health and make sure their colonies will withstand winter. Any colony that has not collected enough honey must be fed 2:1 sugar water by either directly dumping on top or placing in trays beneath.
Make this syrup much more concentrated than the 1:1 sugar syrup used during Spring to store extra energy and help the hive to store nectar for winter and early Spring feedings. Also consider giving new packages or nucs additional food during this phase to give them energy needed to draw out comb and store nectar – and prevent mite infestation.
Hive Health
Make sure your colony has sufficient stored food for winter; otherwise, Small Hive Beetles could potentially attack. Contact agriculture agencies and bee clubs in your area for guidance specific to them.
If your bees have lost weight over the fall months, it may be beneficial to give them a quick sugar syrup at 2:1 ratio of sugar to water by weight, rather than volume. This concentrated solution requires less effort by bees in drying it into honey-like stores for winter storage.
Feed the bees either by pouring sugar directly on their front, using a candy board (a one by three box with candies in it), or placing your sugar beneath screen bottom boards.
