He began by telling me that I had wasted my day digging my bees out of their protective winter blanket of snow. I am still learning, but John's advice is timeless and insightful. Honey bees generate heat by consuming honey and shivering their muscles. In addition to its role as a food source, combs of honey buffer extreme changes in temperature. They absorb heat during the day and release it at night.
Food consumption is low in winter until colonies begin to rear brood.
Colonies can survive until early spring on less than 60 lbs. of honey, but they must consume more honey to maintain tolerable nest temperatures. Increased food consumption leads to an increase in the need for cleansing flights and stress. When feeding to add weight, it is better to feed in the fall to allow the combs of honey to serve as solar collectors. Some floral sources of honey are excellent for winter feed, but others will result in dysentery if used for winter feed. Honeys that crystallizes rapidly such as sunflower and canola, make poor winter feed.