Strong hives....next steps....

[simonforeman]

So my 2nd winter coming I have 8 hives...
5 at my out apiary (brood+1/2 and 14x12's) all of these have Apivar strips in for over a week now. Checked all at the weekend and all on 7-8 frames of bias and some stores.

3 at my home garden (all 14x12's) no treatment will vape these starting next week. Again checked at weekend and 2 on 8 frames of bias and the other on 9 frames of bias. All with stores.

All have stores but not massive amounts for how strong they are and in the nice weather holding their own and adding slowly but may not if prolonged bad weather comes....

So with super strong hives, what would all do next? When would you start to feed up for winter? What else to do apart from complete treatments, feeding and strap them up for winter?

None of my 4 last year were this strong at this point last year.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

I would finish treatments and feed with fondant, which the bees will take down as space is made available by brood emerging.
See the Apiarist website ref fondant feeding instead of syrup.

 

[Millet]

How heavy are the colonies..?.. before considering feeding let the bees do there thing..we still have Balsam and Ivy to follow before wasting money on syrup..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

finish treatment and pile the syrup on - reserve the fondant for Christmas cakemaking and late winter emergency feeding, although with 14x12's, as long as you feed plenty of syrup they should sail through until spring.

 

[Millet]

finish treatment and pile the syrup on - reserve the fondant for Christmas cakemaking and late winter emergency feeding, although with 14x12's, as long as you feed plenty of syrup they should sail through until spring.

So feed them even if Balsam and Ivy is coming in..?..

 

[Swarm]

With a nice dash of thymol emulsion.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So feed them even if Balsam and Ivy is coming in..?..

yes, makes the ivy less prone to solidify too