Being faced with multiple mouths to feed and not enough food can be one of the most frustrating experiences for a beekeeper.
Bees require sugar to make honey, pollen for food and water to survive. A balanced supply of each is essential for colony health and production.
When to cease feeding your bees, it’s a decision that must be made based on weather, climate, plants and species of bees. But don’t stop too soon – it’s essential that the insects have time to settle in.
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Spring
Early spring can be a challenging time for bees. Their natural food source of pollen is limited, and many new colonies struggle to build comb and raise pups.
Feeding sugar syrup to colonies helps stimulate their emergence and raise brood levels during the early weeks of the season. In cold climates, this practice may be especially crucial in order to help the colony survive through winter.
Bees require protein to build their comb and brood cells, and pollen patties are an ideal source of these essential nutrients. Beekeepers commonly utilize pollen patties in both springtime when bees are building weight before winter sets in, as well as early fall when they begin laying eggs before heading south for their hibernation.
When should I stop feeding my bees? While each beekeeper’s answer varies, a general guideline is that when your colony has enough honey reserves to last through winter without additional food supply, then you can stop providing them with food.
Summer
In summertime, your bees must constantly forage to replenish their stores of nectar and pollen. Without these resources, they cannot build comb nor lay eggs.
Bees require protein in addition to nectar, which is why many beekeepers provide pollen patties.
Bees also need water, which can be provided in the form of sugar syrup.
When temperatures rise in summertime, bees must forage more than usual to replenish their stores of nectar and pollen. Therefore, it is essential that you provide your bees with nutritious food so that they remain healthy and strong throughout this busy period.
One simple, affordable method of feeding your bees is by using a contact feeder. This can be made from an empty bucket or ice cream container with small holes punched in the lid.
Fall
In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox signals the start of autumn. However, in other parts of the world this occurs at a different time of year.
Fall is an essential time for beekeepers to manage their colonies’ resources. As forage starts to diminish, this can put a major strain on bees’ reserves.
First, inspect your hive to make sure it has enough nectar and pollen stores. Next, assess what additional feeds may be necessary and be ready to supplement if needed.
If your bees are having difficulty finding enough food, it could be due to a number of reasons: lack of forage, disease or health problems like American Foulbrood and Varroa mites.
Bees that are weakened due to these issues will struggle to keep up with the work of creating honey and collecting enough pollen for winter storage, leading to symptoms such as poor colony vitality and swarm preparation.
Winter
If your bees are producing a lot of comb and have plenty of honey stored for winter, stop feeding them. A strong hive with an active queen who lays an abundance of eggs will likely survive until spring nectar flows again.
When temperatures drop, sugar water may be necessary to help the colony stay alive. It is essential that the syrup be allowed to ripen properly with a moisture content of 18%; otherwise, it could ferment and negatively impact bee health.
Feeding your bees a 2:1 mixture (two parts sugar to one part water) of liquid syrup in late August or early September can ensure they have enough stored honey for winter. Feeding this amount during late August and early September should keep them well-fed throughout this time.
Other reliable winter feeds for bees include fondant and pollen patties. These are less messy than granulated sugar, and can be placed atop bars or queen excluder so the bees can access it similarly to honey.
