Feeding the Bees for Winter Honey Bees by mrsdoni on December 3, 2018 We should have completed this a month ago but better late than never~ Filling the honey bees emergency pantry with sugar cake and Essential Oils.These fit under the lid and provide a top entrance and all the sugar they might need through spring. It takes a lot of sugar to feed 4 hives over the winter. Any uneaten sugar will be melted in water and fed next spring. The empty corners and front entrance hole are where the piece of wood was removed after tamping down the damp sugar. The sugar dries hard as a rock. The holes will add a lot of circulation which is critical to remove excess moisture from the hives during the cold months. This will be the top entrance for the hive. It is critical for allowing for air circulation and for bees to escape if the lower entrance is blocked by snow.