Honey or Fondant

[LKBruns]

In early January I put 5# of fondant on each of my hives.  At that time each hive had several full frames of honey.

I checked today and each hive is nearly out of fondant.  The hives do not seem to be very heavy.  I did not pull the top completely off because it is mid 50's and windy.  Do the bees consume the honey more readily than fondant?  Can I assume they are nearly out of honey?

LB

[jalentour]

I put in sugar blocks with Honey B Healthy in it.  I think the bees liked it better than their honey because they ate it first. 
That being said, I would plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Add fondant if you have it.

[BeeMaster2]

LK,
First you said that the hive is heavy, that is a good sign.
My bees have eaten about a quart of moistened sugar a month. I would give them some more fondant.
I normally do not feed my bees. My number of hives is so low that for the first time I am feeding. One of them still has a full hive of honey. The rest have used a lot of their stores.
Jim

[mtnb]

  The hives do not seem to be very heavy.
LB

Jim, he said they are NOT very heavy. I'd feed 'em. Better safe than sorry.

[little john]

I'd feed 'em. Better safe than sorry.

I agree - if you're in any doubt at all - then feed. It IS possible to overfeed, sure - and this can indeed cause a few problems later on. But not feeding colonies when they need it is almost guaranteed to be terminal.

I lifted the feeder-shells/insulation off a few of mine earlier today to observe that large numbers of bees were milling around between the frame top bars and the clear plastic sheeting I'm trialling as crown boards (inner covers). This activity is undoubtedly due to the continuing warm 'winter' we're having, but the girls are not getting out because of the rain and high winds.

So - I've decided to put an inverted jar of damp sugar on each of them. It may not get used, but for just a few pounds/dollars I'll have piece of mind that I've done all that I could, should any of them not make it. Any unused sugar can always be recycled.

I've never known a winter as warm - or as wet and windy - as this one.

LJ

[little john]

Quick update - I went around the home apiary earlier today and placed inverted jars containing 'damp' sugar onto half of them - I'll do the rest tomorrow.

Very pleased I did - for much to my surprise - they leapt on the sugar and started scoffing away.
Why surprise ? - 'cause they've had jars of fondant in place since early January, which they haven't taken much notice of - and they're supposed to prefer fondant to crystallised sugar.

Obviously very fickle, my ladies ...

LJ