Eaten all the fondant

[Karsal]

I have ten colonies that have overwintered OK. Three full size hives and seven nucleus hives. All poly hives and all have their OMF closed.
I don't take of all the honey but leave them what I consider enough for the winter which has been fine for the last few years.
As insurance I put about 1lb of fondant on the crown board of each colony in an clear upturned plastic container.
This year they are consuming the fondant rapidly and I've added more to some today. It might be worth checking colonies if this weather persists which forecasters are predicting.
I have clear crown boards and everyone of the colonies are on three to four frames all to one side of their respective hive. Must be easier to keep one side of the colony warm while the poly side is insulated.

 

[alfazer]

Last two years I've been removing untouched frames of stores in Spring but this year 3 out of 4 of my colonies are eating well into their fondant. I have clear crownboards too and can see colonies of a decent size when the have risen to the top in the last few weeks.
Feels like a l...o...n...g winter!

 

[oliver90owner]

One problem at this time of the year and a very cold snap can be brooding plus isolation starvation. I think we have just had a cold snap?

 

[Finman]

.
1 lbs of fondant is very little amount of sugar.

 

[Karsal]

That's right Finman but it suits the way I run my apiary. I look in on my bees every week as they are 300metres from my home.