This past year a few of our hives were alive and doing well on the first checkup in February, but when spring came around 2 starved to death and were all dead when the season was just starting. I understand early spring is usually when most bees would starve if they do not have proper stores. What would be the best way to give them more feed so they can survive until spring decides to set in upon that first checkup? Put newspaper on the top bars with sugar on top of that? Does fondant work as well too?
Dry sugar is a useful emergency food source. But what you really want to look at is making sure that the bees have plenty of stores going into Winter. You can feed sugar syrup in the Fall until the hives have enough for your area.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar)
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First you should restrict the bee room in winter sixe.
It depends how much the hive has brood frames before stopping brooding.
Move brood to lower box because they start wintering there.
Then feed combs full that they cap the food.
NOT apropriate amount.
Learn to weight the hive with one hand, do you feel it to have enough stores.
You may use bathroom balance installin it to one side.
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