Question on winter feeding

[DM]

This is my second winter and have two hives.  Today went out to look at the girls. One hive, a swarm from last summer seems to be doing well and they are down deep in the bottom middle. It seems like there is capped honey on most of the top frames. At this point I see no need to put any sugar in that one.

The second one the girls were awaiting in the opening of the inner cover and many on the top frames from the middle to the outside. There seems to be capped honey (from what I could see) from the middle to the other side. Should I put some dry sugar and start to feed them or wait? 

I have wondered if putting a layer of sugar on top of the inner cover is OK or just add a medium and put the sugar on the newspaper?

Thanks Dennis

[Kathyp]

you can do the dry sugar but if they have frames of honey, and it's warm enough, you can just move some of those capped frames from the outside toward the center. 

how many boxes on that  hive?

if you open a wild hive, you'll find that the bees store honey over the top and down the sides.  the center, where brood will be in the spring, usually does not have anything or has a small patch of brood.  do not mess with the middle, but try to put your honey frames down either side, or over the top if you have more than one box on.

[Finski]

There seems to be capped honey (from what I could see) from the middle to the other side.

The the hive sleep its winter in peace.

[Hemlock]

Dennis,

I also have a hive where the girls were loitering above the inner cover (the other hive did not).  Out of curiosity are you having any problems with that hive?