>  I wonder if others have noticed a trend in increased requirements to get
>colonies up to winter weight.


I certainly did this year. My production colonies are heavy as lead...no
feeding necessary. But my 4 frame nucs. I fed what I thought was the
required amount af syrup, to get them up to weight. Three weeks later, many
look as it they hadn't been fed at all. The end of September, and first
week of October was unusually warm. The nucs are packed with bees, and
probably used it in brood rearing...my guess.

In the fall, I weigh my production colonies, and have a target weight of
150 lbs. That was always sufficient, for the bees to make it until some
tome in April. I've noticed the past few years, that more and more 150
pounders come through too light, and a few starve in late spring. I've been
selecting for broodiness, so that may be the reason.
Mike




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