Mountain Camp Feeding

The Mountain Camp method for winter supplemental feeding is an excellent method for feeding your hives in the winter. This method serves as a food source and absorbs moisture in the hive. We use about 4-5 pounds of granulated cane sugar. Use a shim to provide space in between the top brood box and inner cover. Most resources recommend using newspaper to lay the sugar on, however, the newspaper can quickly deteriorate. We use recycled political signs made of corrugated plastic and drill or cut holes big enough for bees to move through. Don't make the holes too big so the sugar won't fall into hive. We also use one pound of fondant and find the bees usually eat the fondant first, then eat the sugar, and finally eat their honey stores. If the winter is warm and mild, check their winter supplements more often as they will most likely go through their feed quicker due to more physical activity.