Winter feeding

[Dave W]

>Without speaking for him . . .
I would like to add your words to my statement

>I'm not saying that many beeks feed JUST because it's fall but I do believe that a lot of us automatically think along those lines just to play it safe . . .
Its important for Newbees to understand the "play it safe" and other REAL reasons for feeding. You defined them well.

>Lately, I've come to believe that a good queen is far more important than a good feeding . . .
I'm not sure how to emphasize this except to saying it twice
A good queen is far more important than a good feeding.
A good queen is far more important than a good feeding.



>Regarding the effects of feeding versus natural selection . . .
I was just making a "comment". Lets not discuss this ALL winter

[Jeffzhear]

Do a search on the "MOUNTAINCAMP" method of feeding dry sugar. It has brought many a NUC or new colony with questionable amounts of honey through winter for me.

[beehoppers]

For any Miller type feeder I use, I lay a small piece of screen over the inner cover hole and tape around it with masking tape. I lay a couple of small...1/4" or so...blocks of wood at the front corners of the inner cover and replace the lid. This allows about the same ventilation they get without the feeder and they can't crawl in from the top to drown.

[wltwine]

Thank you, you explained it well, I think I'll try that.

[chandler]

Originally Posted by wltwine

it's all good, I'll feed them if I think I need to, the hive has two deep supers full of honey, I did not take any honey this year, checked them about two weeks ago and they were full, so I think they have done well,I just did'nt know if I should still feed when they have packed out the house with honey.

This is my method as well. I have two deeps and a super on and are all full of honey. I only took one frame out of the super this year, the rest is for the bees. If they can't live off that, then beekeeping isn't for me.