Winter Feeding: Helping Bees Survive the Cold Months

Today, I spent most of my day checking on my bees, making sure they have enough food to make it through the winter. Here in the Carmel, Santa Cruz, and Bay Area regions, honey bee colonies typically need around 50-70 pounds of honey to survive the winter. During spring and summer, bees work hard to gather enough food to last them through the colder months when it's too chilly to fly or when food resources are scarce.

However, there are times when a colony isn’t able to secure enough nectar and honey for winter. This could be due to health issues, low population, drought, or simply a lack of food resources in their environment. In these cases, I believe it's the beekeeper’s responsibility to step in and help by providing supplemental feeding to support the colony.

How to Feed Bees for Winter

If a beekeeper needs to supplement the bees' food stores, they typically feed a thick sugar syrup, usually a ratio of 3 parts sugar to 1 part water. It’s important to use granulated white cane sugar, as it’s the safest option for the bees' digestive systems. Other sugars, like brown sugar or powdered sugar, can make the bees sick. The best time to feed bees is in late summer or early fall, giving them enough time to consume and store the syrup for future use.

If a colony is low on pollen, which is the bees' primary source of protein, a beekeeper can also provide a pollen substitute or supplement, available at most beekeeping supply stores.

Choosing the Right Feeder

When it comes to feeding sugar syrup, there are various feeder styles available, and each beekeeper has their preference. Personally, I like to use frame-style trough feeders. These feeders fit inside the hive, providing easy access for the bees and holding about a gallon of syrup. While they are convenient to fill, you do need to open the hive to refill them, so be mindful of that when checking the syrup levels.

*One important tip: if your feeder has an open style, make sure it has a ladder system or plenty of sticks for the bees to perch on while they drink. Without these "floaters," bees can accidentally fall into the syrup and drown.

Supporting Your Bees

As beekeepers, it’s essential to monitor our colonies closely, especially as winter approaches. If you notice your bees are low on food, don't hesitate to step in and offer some help. A little supplemental feeding can make all the difference in ensuring your bees thrive through the winter and are ready to get back to work come spring.