i think i over feed mine as lots of stores left in most colonies....
I have two left yet to inspect, though have hefted them one feels very heavy still but are very busy.
Typically I don't feed too much in Autumn until I see how the ivy forage is going .
As long as it is mild then ivy forage of the past few years has been very good, I only think about feeding heavily if the Autumn turns very wet or very much cooler.
They usually get 0.5 - 1 gallon of wet feed with thymol to add to the winter store mix and typically I manage them on 35 - 40lbs of stores.
Poly hives I find tend to be better (more frugal) with consuming stores pro rata to those on non insulated hives , however poly do tend to be a little a head of the game when it comes to expansion and brood rearing so in all the stores usage equal out and they all to have similar amounts . The poly's are heavier when hefted in deep winter but they soon become lighter once brood rearing get under way in earnest from mid Feb onwards as they tend to be ahead of those in wooden hives.
If I can heft a colony (heavy roof removed) with one two fingers easily without much resistance in the lift then I plonk on a 1ltr tub of fondant until I can quickly have a look inside, unlike a lot of fiddlers itching to open in all weather I do wait until the clocks go forward as with this year to catch a half weather window for a quick assessment.
Experience and faith in ones ability (management of colonies) should hold one in good stead. Three things one can do and must be on top of in Autumn, stop fiddling after July /August. Use a good varroa treatment process that gives proper 95% + mite knock down, don't feed to early as one wants max winter brood rearing to be unhindered by clogged stores. Know the stores quantity by adding up the frame stores by sight so one knows how much they have and might need as one enters into mid Sept, make allowances for ivy by knowing where the sources are in your locale.
My quick spring assessment is to remove the second frame from each end to check stores or brood (this also allows me to see the faces of the two adj frames) and then lift the middle frame to check for brood and also the two adj faces of frames. Often this is all that is needed, as long as brood pattern is good there is no need to delve deeper for eggs , larvae or to find the Qu. Normal proper full inspections can wait a few more weeks until the weather improves more .
Keep things simple get to know how hefting can tell how a light and heavy hive feels to gauge hive weight for stores.
P.s
Excuse the ramble Cc, not aimed at you but just generally everyone who feels a need or itch to fiddle way too early.
