Our winter winds tend to come from the north. For instance, the northern interior of our home is often colder than the rest of the house.
Surely it does because sun is on opposite side. But the hive radiates warm outside from it's all parts. And the night is mostly cold. At spring the difference between minimum and maximum may be 15-20C.
Winter comes from north? Nver heard. It comes because globe runs round the sun in such an position.
The measure of radiation of the sum makes winter and summer.
When we have insulation regulation to homes and buildings, surely they not have different thicknes to diffrenet side walls. The very important direction is the ceiling, because warm air rise upp.
The sugar board, a solid block of sugar candy, was mainly insurance that there would be food for them if they ran out of stores in early spring.
That kind of food is the worst you can give to bees. It makes them dirsty.
I have long winter. I give sugar solution to 2 box hive 18 liters. In March bee makes their cleansing flight and soon I tseck do they have weight= sugar left. If not, I give capped frames from other hives.
If you have in home yard hives, you can give them 10 liters sugar liquid.
In Finland many use dry sugar at spring but I do not know why.
I still repeat what I have said many times.
there is no sence to
1) feed nucs or hives at summer all the time, because it fills little hive and queen cannot lay eggs enough.
2) feed all the winter. No sence. Bees do not die if you give at autum food proper measure.
If you have snow and cold winter, why don't you use insulated hives. It saves food 30% during winter and speed upp spring development really well.
