Couldn't really give a definitive answer from North Yorkshire Patrick as too variable and weather/temp dependent. I know I'll still be feeding mid-late October.
I just started feeding the hives back from the moors this afternoon, blowing a gale, raining and cold and there were still white ghosts flying in. Had to be done today as working next three days and no time....girls were as good as gold didn't even blink when I removed their crown boards and added feeders, Perhaps because it was so cold..../wry grin/
What is amazing is how fast they can remove 5 litres from an Ashforth type feeder....literally 24 hours (or less) in many cases. Whereas the rapid 2.5 litre jobs can take a few days. I think this is probably due to the number of bees getting access to the syrup in an Ashforth is far greater then in a rapid/cone feeder.
I just started feeding the hives back from the moors this afternoon, blowing a gale, raining and cold and there were still white ghosts flying in. Had to be done today as working next three days and no time....girls were as good as gold didn't even blink when I removed their crown boards and added feeders, Perhaps because it was so cold..../wry grin/
What is amazing is how fast they can remove 5 litres from an Ashforth type feeder....literally 24 hours (or less) in many cases. Whereas the rapid 2.5 litre jobs can take a few days. I think this is probably due to the number of bees getting access to the syrup in an Ashforth is far greater then in a rapid/cone feeder.