With colder weather setting in, you should have stopped feeding your bees any liquids by now. If you still have feeders, you probably notice the bees do not take much when the night time temperature plunges and they cluster.
Did you check the weight of the colonies the last time you were at your hive(s)? Even if the hive(s) are not light, it is still a good idea to furnish each colony with a candy board. It may prevent your bees from "starving to death" even though there may be many frames of honey just inches away from the cluster.
There are several recipies for the "candy" in candy boards. Do an internet search to get more information on construction of the candy board, the recipe for the candy or where to buy them if you prefer not to or do not have the time to make them.
The candy board (candy side down) will replace the inner cover on the hive. You can quickly check it every 3 weeks or so to see if it has been consumed and needs to be replaced. So it is a good idea to have one spare board to give to a colony which has consumed all the candy on the board you previously put on the colony.
Did you check the weight of the colonies the last time you were at your hive(s)? Even if the hive(s) are not light, it is still a good idea to furnish each colony with a candy board. It may prevent your bees from "starving to death" even though there may be many frames of honey just inches away from the cluster.
There are several recipies for the "candy" in candy boards. Do an internet search to get more information on construction of the candy board, the recipe for the candy or where to buy them if you prefer not to or do not have the time to make them.
The candy board (candy side down) will replace the inner cover on the hive. You can quickly check it every 3 weeks or so to see if it has been consumed and needs to be replaced. So it is a good idea to have one spare board to give to a colony which has consumed all the candy on the board you previously put on the colony.
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