In the wild, bees manage without a kindly beekeeper feeding them. Of course, no one is robbing their honey, except for the rare bear or other critter.
You will find plenty of arguments online over whether you should feed your bees, when to do so, and what to feed them. That decision is ultimately up to you.
I consider my bees are a type of livestock, and I feed them when they are short on natural food, just as I would offer pasture-raised cows hay or other feed during the winter when the fields are covered in snow or the animals are locked in their barn due to the weather.
Because I believe my job as a beekeeper is to make sure my beehives are healthy and the colony can overwinter successfully, I feed them. It increases their survival rate, can boost hive size, and can ultimately increase your honey harvest.
My thoughts on what to feed, when, and how to feed your bees follow. Click on 2 learn about various foods, 3 to learn about feeders, and 4 for the four best times to feed your bees.
