I used to not feed at all. I left enough honey on the hives to survive the winter. Come spring they all made it and would start to build up. When the late winter nectar, Maple, stopped, many of my hives would abscond to find better pastures. Last spring I fed them and I did not lose any. I only put 2 tiny holes in the feeder jar lids to minimize swarming. They get a continuous small amount of nectar but they are not able to back fill with it. It just helps feed the brood.
Jim