How to Prepare Your Bees for Winter: Complete Feeding and Treatment Guide

Petr Drabek
Nov 2
3 min read

As the beekeeping season winds down, one of the most important tasks for every beekeeper is ensuring that their colonies are ready to survive the winter. Proper winter preparation not only increases the survival rate of your bees but also ensures a strong, productive start in the spring.

In this post, we’ll walk through a complete, practical guide on how to prepare your bees for winter — from feeding and weight checks to treatments and insulation.

1. When to Start Winter Preparation

The timing of your winter preparation depends on your region, but as a general rule, it should begin right after the last honey harvest. The goal is to make sure the colony is strong and well-fed before cold weather sets in.

Temperate climates: Late August – early September
Colder regions: Mid to late August
Mild or tropical climates: Adjust based on the dearth period or seasonal changes

The earlier you start, the more time the bees have to process syrup and organize stores.

2. Check Colony Strength and Hive Condition

Before feeding or treating, make sure your colony is strong enough to overwinter:

Combine weak colonies with stronger ones if necessary.
Check for healthy brood patterns and active queen laying.
Replace any damaged frames, lids, or boxes that could cause drafts or leaks.

Strong colonies overwinter better because they can maintain cluster temperature more efficiently.

3. Feeding: Build Up Winter Stores

Your bees will need sufficient food to survive the cold months — both for heating and for early spring brood rearing.

🍯 How Much Honey Do Bees Need for Winter?

This depends on the climate and hive type, but here’s a general guide:

Cold regions: 25–30 kg (55–65 lbs) of stores per hive
Temperate regions: 20–25 kg (45–55 lbs)
Mild climates: 15–20 kg (35–45 lbs)

🧪 Feeding Syrup: Ratios and Timing

Use a 2:1 sugar-to-water syrup (two parts sugar, one part water) for autumn feeding — it’s thicker and easier for bees to store quickly.

Feed during warm days when bees can still fly, and stop once nighttime temperatures drop below 10°C (50°F).

💡 Tip: In ApiNote, you can use the built-in Beekeeping Calculator to easily calculate syrup ratios or required feed quantities per hive.

4. Treat for Varroa Mites and Diseases

Varroa mite management is critical before winter. Once bees form their winter cluster, you can’t apply most treatments effectively.

Recommended options include:

Oxalic acid dribble or vaporization (after brood break)
Formic acid pads (early autumn)
Thymol-based treatments (if temperatures are moderate)

Always follow dosage instructions carefully — and record your treatments for future reference.

📱 Pro Tip: In ApiNote, you can log every treatment and track dates per hive, ensuring you never repeat or miss one.

5. Reduce Hive Entrances and Improve Insulation

Once temperatures start dropping:

Install mouse guards or entrance reducers.
Check ventilation — condensation kills more bees than cold.
Add insulation boards or wraps if your area experiences freezing winters.

Avoid sealing the hive completely — bees need air circulation to prevent moisture buildup.

6. Final Checklist Before Winter

✅ Sufficient honey stores (check hive weight)

✅ Queen is present and laying properly

✅ Varroa treatment completed

✅ Entrances reduced and insulated

✅ Notes recorded for each hive (feeding, treatment, inspection)

With all of this done, you’ll give your colonies the best possible chance to make it through the winter and thrive in spring.

🐝 Stay warm, and may your bees stay healthy!