How much honey should a colony have entering winter?

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A colony should ideally have 30 to 40 pounds of honey going into winter to ensure that they have enough food to sustain themselves during the cold months when foraging is not possible. This amount is critical because honey provides the necessary carbohydrates that bees need for energy.

During winter, bees cluster together in the hive to maintain warmth, and they rely on their stored honey for sustenance while they wait for the warmer weather to return. If a colony does not have enough stored honey, they risk starvation, which could lead to the loss of the entire hive.

The amount specified aligns with the average consumption rate of a bee colony during winter, as bees will use their stored honey over several months until they can forage again in spring. Therefore, ensuring a stored quantity around 30 to 40 pounds is a prudent practice for beekeepers to promote the colony's health and survival through the winter season.

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