Beekeeping Tools & Playbooks
FeedingWinterPlanningFREE+PRO

Winter stores & emergency feed calculator

Estimate how much winter food your colonies need and plan emergency feeding if they are short on stores.

Tell us about your setup

Estimate your current stores

Temperate climateSingle deep / single brood

Your winter stores estimate

Recommended range for this setup: 18–24 kg (39.7–52.9 lb) of stores.

Estimated stores per colony now: 11.0 kg (24.3 lb)

Status: High risk of starvation without extra feed

Estimated deficit: ~7.0 kg (15.4 lb) per colony.

Emergency feeding suggestion

Heavy syrup (2:1) in autumn if temperatures allow, otherwise fondant/dry sugar.

Calculations are approximate and lean slightly cautious. Combine with your own experience, local advice and real heft/weight checks through winter.

Not sure if your colonies have enough food to make it through winter? This calculator helps you estimate their stores and plan safe top-up feeding if they’re light – without complex scales or spreadsheets.

Tell us about your setup

Hemisphere & climate

  • Hemisphere: North / South
  • Climate: Mild / Temperate / Cold / Very cold

Hive type

  • Single deep / single brood box
  • Double deep / brood-and-a-half
  • Dadant-style hive
  • Other / not sure (we’ll give general guidance)

Number of colonies

How many colonies do you want to check in this plan?

Estimate your current stores

Choose how you usually estimate food:

Method

  • “I count frames of capped honey.”
  • “I estimate by hive weight.”
  • “Mostly by feel / visual guess.”

If you count frames:

  • Average full frames of capped honey per colony
    You can use decimals (e.g. 3.5).

If you estimate by weight:

  • Average hive weight now (including bees, brood, hardware)
    • Enter kg or lb.
    • A short helper note can remind you to subtract approx. empty hive weight if you know it.

If you guess visually:

  • Rough description
    • “Boxes mostly full of honey”
    • “About half full”
    • “Quite light – lots of empty comb”

Your winter stores estimate

You’ll see:

  • Recommended store range for your climate and hive type
    (for example, cold winter double-deep colonies may need significantly more than mild-climate single boxes – values are approximate and explained).

  • Your estimated stores per colony
    Based on your chosen method, converted into a rough kg/lb number.

  • Status classification

    • “Likely adequate for your climate”
    • “Borderline – consider adding some feed”
    • “High risk of starvation without extra feed”

We’ll explain, in plain language, how conservative or optimistic this classification is.

Emergency feeding suggestions

If your colonies look light, you’ll also see suggestions tuned to your climate and season:

  • Early to mid autumn
    – heavy syrup feeding (if temperatures allow),
    – how many kg/lb of syrup to aim for per colony over several rounds.

  • Late autumn to mid-winter
    – fondant or dry sugar options if liquid feed is too risky,
    – reminders about moisture and ventilation.

  • Late winter / early spring
    – how to support borderline colonies without stimulating them too early,
    – when to switch from emergency feed to proper build-up feeding.

Pro users can download a short PDF:

  • summary of the assessment,
  • per-colony feeding targets,
  • a simple schedule with checkboxes and note space.

How this calculator works

This calculator:

  • uses broad recommended ranges from temperate and cold-climate beekeeping practice;
  • recognises that exact needs depend on winter length, local forage and colony strength;
  • errs slightly on the cautious side – it’s better to have a little more food than not enough.

It does not:

  • know your exact winter length or local weather extremes;
  • guarantee colonies won’t starve if conditions are abnormally harsh;
  • consider unusual honey types (like honeydew) that may behave differently in winter.

Always combine these estimates with your own experience, local advice and real observations of your bees.

FAQ

Can I rely on frame counts alone?
Counting frames of capped honey is a common method. It’s not perfect, but combined with climate information it’s usually good enough to judge whether you are very light or comfortably stocked.

Do I need a scale for good results?
No. Scales help, but many beekeepers manage fine using frame counts and “hefting” hives. The calculator supports both.

Is it safe to feed syrup in winter?
In cold climates, liquid syrup is usually risky once temperatures drop too low – bees may not be able to process it. At that point, fondant or dry sugar is often safer. The tool will nudge you in that direction based on season and climate.

Will this work in very mild winters?
It can, but the recommended ranges may be on the high side for truly mild climates. In those regions, bees often fly and collect some forage through winter. Adjust based on local advice.

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