Checking Food Stores
Arbeiten am Bienenstand
The most common avoidable loss is starvation in late winter.
The most common avoidable loss is starvation in late winter. From February on, the brood grows and with it consumption, while nothing is yet blooming outside. A brooding colony now uses up about 1.5 to 2 kilograms a month, roughly one food comb.
The simplest check is carefully lifting the hive at the back edge. If the hive feels light, danger is imminent. It becomes more precise with a spring scale. How much still needs to be on hand is judged differently by the institutes: at least two full food combs are named, or, depending on hive system and region, about 8 kilograms at the start of March.
If supplemental feeding is needed, the feed belongs directly above or beside the winter cluster. The first choice is a full, clean food comb right at the bee cluster. Whether fondant or warm liquid feed is better as a substitute is judged differently by the advisory centers. What is certain is only this: a colony cannot leave the cluster in frost to travel to distant stores.