Winter Inspection versus Spring & Easy Feeding Method for SP

I cracked my Langstroth Hive open on a warm day in Winter to fill the feeder and the bees were really MAD! Even the smoke didn't seem to slow them down. But, I also do NOT open the hive often. They're on their own other than feeding in late Fall and some Winter if I think they need it. I usually leave one full medium of honey for overwintering on top of the two deeps! I do NOT medicate my bees to death either. As I say they are on their own and seem to be doing very well.

I belong to a Beekeeping group and at the first Spring meet another member mentioned how he open fed his bees. I tried it and it works well so both my hives are accessing it. It is just an anchored 5 gal bucket tilted at a 45 angle with a handfull of long straw inserted and then a batch of 50/50 sugar water poured in. I did put a few drops of lemon oil in the mix originally to attract the bees and this evening I refreshed the sugar water around 7:45 and bees were still in there.

Try it! You might like it! No opening of the hive. And, lots of happy bees!