HP, how much honey per single deep or double deep hive do you need to winter over?
In south Texas I used an entire medium of honey. Rarely a Frost in that area, however the bees were active somewhat but no foliage so a lot of honey was needed.
Cheers
Van
Only an experienced beekeeper local to your area can advise how much feed is needed. What I need here to get through 6 months of frozen white landscape to what is needed in balmy year round forage in Florida will be significantly different. Hence my question to the OP above. Location, location, location.
To VanZ question. My all in weight target by mid October 15. This includes lid, boxes, bees, and bottom board.
- double deep: 165 lbs, wintered outdoors or in climate controlled building
- single deep: 95+ lbs, wintered in climate controlled building
Winter period is long here. Frost kill by 1st week of september. Snow on the ground and frozen landscape any day from Oct 10 onwards. Spring snowmelt and above zero temperatures do not return until into April. There is no forage until wk3 of April when the willows open.
At the weights given. The double deep will be on verge of starving end of April. The single deep will be starving end of March. It is impossible to feed November through March. Feeding is complete by end of September.