Carl Fuller writes re drones being thrown out of the hive and raises the
question of feeding.
 
This is quite a normal procedure at this time of the year. Even if the bees
have enough stores they will throw out most if not all of the drones, as
long as they have a mated queen.
 
If you decide to feed the bees, you should do so on the basis of the weight
of stores in the hive.
 
I show below two paragraphs from the Beekeeping Study Notes by J.D & B.D.
Yates regarding winter feeding which I hope is helpful. (I converted the
weights from Imperial to Metric - I hope they are OK).
 
Each frame in the brood chamber is inspected, and the amount of liquid
stores estimated on the basis that a BS (British Standard) frame when full
and sealed with honey weighs 5 lbs (2.3 kgs). A Commercial frame holds 7 lbs
(3.1 kgs). For other makes of hives, consult documentation or weigh a full
frame.
 
A strong colony requires 35lbs (15.9 kgs) to see it through to the spring.
 
Assume that the hive contains 25lbs (11.3 kgs) of stores based on an
examination of the frames.
 
The colony requires 10lbs (4.6 kgs) of additional stores.
 
1 lb (.45 kgs) of honey contains 0.8 lb (.36 kgs) sugar, therefore the
colony requires 10 X .8 = 8 lbs (3.6 kgs)  sugar, fed in syrup form.
 
The syrup consists of 2 lbs (.90 kgs) sugar to 1 pint (.57 litres) of water,
so we mix the 8 lbs(3.6 kgs) sugar with 4 pints (2.3 litres) of water.
 
Since the above is straight out of the text book, and I am only a second
year beekeeper, I cannot vouch for it's correctness (but if you stated the
above in an examination question in this country, it would be accepted as
correct).
 
Bear in mind of course that the above figures are UK based.
 
Any feed back (pardon the pun!), will be appreciated.
 
Sincerely
 
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
e mail [log in to unmask]
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
Latitude  53 Degrees 16' North
Longitude  6 Degrees  9' West of Greenwich