I've found that a colony with bees, but no honey weighs 65-70 lbs. Imake my
doubles weigh 140 lbs, and 150 if there is a super on. I have very little
starvation in Northern Vermont at these weights, and still have to feed 10% or so
in the spring. I feed hfcs in October if the colonies don't weigh up. One gallon
of feed for every 10 lbs underweight.
I like feeding in early October because brood rearing has just stopped, and it is
still warm enough for the bees to take down the syrup.
Eric Abell wrote:
 
> I was going to suggest that you modify your scale device to hook onto the
> front only and calclate the weight from there ... then I see you don't want
> to do that.  It would be interesting if you would weigh a number of colonies
> in your normal fashion followed be a weighing by lifting the front only.
> The degree of error would be most interesting.  I suggest that it will not
> be great and that the ease of operation might outweight any potential error.
>
> Another thought occurs to me .. that is, I don't really need to know the
> precise weight of the hive because I don't know the weight that I must have
> to go into winter.  In my view, there are so many variables and so much
> conjecture going on that a small error in hive weight is on no importance.
> But maybe I am just lazy :-)
>
> >Rex - I have one for you. I weigh each colony in the fall, to determine how
> >much hfcs to feed out. I use a metal bar with a hook welded on it. The hook
> >holds the spring scale. Attatched to the bottom of the scale are two arms
> >that grab the hand holes on the hive front and back. Trouble is - 1. it takes
> >two people to weigh each hive, 2. after 1000 colonies, my arms and shoulders
> >are dead.
> >
> >Would love an easier way. Something one person could handle. Something easy
> >to use, set up, take down, and transport. I don't want to weigh 1/2 of the
> >hive at a time, and then take an average. I want the real weight. I find
> >that by weighing each hive, I can feed just what they need. No waste, no
> >underfeeding.   Mike
> >
> >
> Eric Abell
> Gibbons, Alberta Canada T0A 1N0
> Ph/fax (403) 998 3143
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