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"Failing to insulate hives in cold areas will require more feeding to maintain colony size over winter." What I have heard is that they use less food when it i
by giantg2 3y ago
"Failing to insulate hives in cold areas will require more feeding to maintain colony size over winter."
What I have heard is that they use less food when it it cooler due to their metabolism being lower.
- kurthr 3y agoYou don't have to feed them pollen if they don't have brood, but they still try to keep themselves above the 50F storage temp so they need honey/syrup. If they were outside pollinating at spring temps (in a warm area), they wouldn't need any feeding at all. It's a cost add in the warm climes so the only reason I can see to do it is for mite treatment.
- giantg2 3y agoI was just talking normal overwintering. I assume cold storage would need feeding, but I don't have any large scale commercial experience.