By fall, most beehives should have stored enough resources to sustain them through to spring without needing any form of feeding assistance. If that is not the case, some type of supplement will likely be necessary.
Most beekeepers in the fall use 2:1 sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to one part water). The goal is to promote population increase and comb drawing prior to winter.
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1. Sugar Syrup
Sugar syrup is an ideal way to feed bees during fall; it is quick and simple to prepare, while being much gentler on their colony than honey and helping reduce robbery.
Sugar syrup consists of two parts sugar to one part water. Some beekeepers prefer using 1:1 doses for feeding to promote population increase and comb drawing, while others use denser doses (2:1) as fall stores replenishment strategies.
Whatever dose you select, it’s essential that the syrup doesn’t caramelize and turn to sugar water. Also important during drought conditions: feeding colonies via frame feeders inside their hives while decreasing entrances so as to discourage robbing of other hives – both actions will help minimize losses of colonies to other colonies.
2. Water
If your bees have no stored honey by Fall’s arrival, you will have no other choice but to feed them artificially. This could be caused by drought conditions reducing natural forage availability in your area and lack thereof.
Feed a 2:1 mixture of sugar and water into your hive feeder in order to decrease robbing by forcing bees to dedicate more energy towards clustering instead of nectar seeking.
At this stage, it may also be beneficial to introduce food stimulants, such as honey-bee healthy, amino acid boosters and micro/probiotics. A top or frame feeder would be best suited to make this happen without opening your hive!
3. Honey
Idealistically, bees will have stored enough honey before the cold weather sets in. Otherwise, their hive could be at risk.
Be mindful that hive needs may change from year to year depending on local conditions and climate patterns. In times of prolonged rain that preclude foraging activities, colonies will require extra nutrition in order to remain energy efficient and avoid fatigue.
If you have harvested honey from your hives by September, it’s wise to remove their supers and begin feeding. This allows them to utilize their stores more efficiently while improving winter survival. Many beekeepers also add food stimulants such as glucose to their syrup in this period in order to promote rapid intake and limit robbing.
4. Bee Pollen
Where there is limited fall bloom, bee colonies need a protein boost in order to survive until spring arrives. By mixing pollen substitute with sugar syrup, bee colonies can get extra protein for rearing brood and maintenance tasks.
However, be wary when using food stimulants during the fall season – they could tempt bees into foraging too soon and starvation in winter could result.
Sugar solutions (usually 2 parts sugar to 1 part water) should be fed until the colony has enough honey stores for winter. This practice can be particularly helpful in regions with limited natural sources of nectar and pollen during late summer/fall months; just be sure to minimize entrances at feeding times so as to prevent robbing!
5. Bee Propolis
Bees use propolis as part of their bee-making process to smooth rough surfaces and seal crevices in their hive, as well as protect it from pathogens such as molds, bacteria and viruses.
Scientists have discovered that propolis contains various chemical compounds which exhibit antimicrobial, antifungal and other therapeutic benefits, while it may even offer antioxidant protection.
Honey bee colonies that collect more propolis during spring and summer tend to experience higher brood survival rates compared to colonies that collect less propolis, although its cause remains unclear. Scientists conducted an experiment that measured mite-infested bees emerging from cells treated with or without propolis for survival rates comparison purposes.
