Product Overview
AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties with Honey-B-Healthy
Accessible supplemental carbohydrate feed for winter and early-spring colonies
AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties with Honey-B-Healthy are soft, solid supplemental bee feed designed for cold-weather feeding when a colony needs additional accessible food. Made with sugar, Dadant's AP23 formulation, and Honey-B-Healthy, these high-carbohydrate winter patties can be placed directly over the cluster on the top bars, putting feed where clustered bees can readily reach it.
At Lappe's Bee Supply, one of the most important lessons we have learned from winter feeding is to evaluate the colony, not the calendar. Hive weight, accessible honey, cluster position, previous patty consumption, time of year, and upcoming weather all help determine whether supplementation is appropriate. Accessible honey means stored honey the clustered bees can readily reach under current conditions, not simply honey that is present somewhere in the hive. AP23 Winter Patties are particularly useful as backup or emergency feed when winter stores become lighter than expected.
At a Glance
- Product: AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties with Honey-B-Healthy
- SKU: WNTS-2362
- Manufacturer: Dadant & Sons
- Feed type: Soft, solid, carbohydrate-oriented supplemental bee feed
- Primary season: Winter through early spring when supplemental food is needed
- Placement: 1–2 patties directly over the cluster on the top bars
- Feeder required: No separate feeder is required for direct top-bar placement
- Wax paper: May remain on the patty during feeding
- Storage: Below 70°F and out of direct sunlight
Guaranteed Analysis
| Nutrient | Guaranteed Analysis |
| Crude Protein | 2.5% minimum |
| Crude Fat | 2.0% minimum |
| Crude Fiber | 1.0% maximum |
| Moisture | 10% maximum |
| Ash | 0.20% minimum |
Why Placement Matters During Cold Weather
A winter patty is most useful when the colony can reach it. During cold conditions, a tightly clustered colony may have limited ability to move to food elsewhere in the hive. Placing supplemental feed immediately above the cluster helps keep it accessible without depending on liquid syrup or a separate feeder.
This becomes especially important in late winter, when colonies may consume stored honey and supplemental feed faster than expected as the season progresses.
Winter Patties vs. Regular AP23 Pollen Patties
AP23 Winter Patties and regular AP23 pollen patties are not nutritionally interchangeable products. AP23 Winter Patties are primarily a carbohydrate-oriented cold-weather supplemental feed and have a current guaranteed analysis of 2.5% minimum crude protein. Regular AP23 pollen-substitute patties are a higher-protein product with 15% crude protein and serve a different nutritional purpose.
| Feeding Need | Product to Consider |
| Accessible supplemental carbohydrate feed during winter or cold early-spring conditions | AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties |
| Higher-protein pollen-substitute feeding | Regular AP23 Pollen Patties |
If your primary feeding objective is a higher-protein pollen substitute, consider AP23 Pollen Patties with Honey-B-Healthy instead.
Is This Winter Patty Right for Your Colony?
AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties are best considered when a colony has insufficient or questionable accessible food reserves during cold weather, particularly when liquid feeding is difficult or impractical.
They may be especially useful for:
- Colonies that are lighter on stored honey than desired
- Late-winter colonies that have consumed more stores than expected
- Extended periods of cold weather
- Backup or emergency winter feeding
- Early-spring periods when supplemental food is needed before another feeding strategy becomes practical
Not every colony automatically needs a winter patty. Lappe's considers the colony's condition rather than feeding solely because a particular month has arrived. A cluster high in the hive, by itself, is not proof that the colony is starving.
How to Feed AP23 Winter Patties
- Evaluate the colony's food situation and identify the location of the winter cluster.
- Use an appropriate opportunity to access the colony while minimizing unnecessary winter disturbance.
- Place 1–2 patties directly over the cluster on the top bars.
- The wax paper may remain on the patty.
- Close the colony normally and continue monitoring its food situation.
No separate feeder is required for this placement method. No fixed number of days can be assigned to how long a patty should last because consumption varies with colony population, existing stores, brood rearing, weather, season, feed accessibility, and other colony conditions.
Lappe's Apiary Note: Evaluate the Colony, Not the Calendar
If accessible winter stores are questionable, place supplemental feed directly over the cluster and keep monitoring the colony rather than assuming one feeding will carry it through the rest of winter.
In our experience, late-winter colonies can consume supplemental feed surprisingly quickly. A colony that appeared adequately supplied earlier in winter can become considerably lighter as the season progresses. Having winter patties available before a shortage becomes critical makes it easier to respond when a colony's food situation changes unexpectedly.
What to Expect
AP23 Winter Patties are normally soft and pliable. Minor differences in shape or appearance are less important than whether the feed remains in normal usable condition and can be handled and placed over the cluster.
Normal softness should not automatically be treated as a defect. Conditions that deserve closer examination include:
- Excessive melting or leakage
- Significantly damaged or open packaging
- Unusual discoloration or odor
- Visible contamination
- Another abnormal physical condition that makes the feed unsuitable for normal handling
Storage and Warm-Weather Handling
Store unused AP23 Winter Patties below 70°F and out of direct sunlight. The patties can soften or melt as temperatures rise.
Warm-weather shipping: These patties ship at the customer's risk during warmer temperatures because their consistency and melting point can allow them to soften or melt in transit. Lappe's Bee Supply cannot be held responsible for patties that melt because of heat.
Important Feeding Expectations
- Continue checking accessible stores after feeding; one feeding may not carry a colony through the remainder of winter.
- Patty consumption varies by colony and conditions, and slow consumption alone does not indicate a product problem.
- Stored honey elsewhere in the hive may be difficult for a tightly clustered colony to reach during cold conditions.
- AP23 Winter Patties are not a substitute for a higher-protein pollen-substitute patty when protein supplementation is the feeding objective.
Expiration and Ordering Support
Feed products have defined expiration dates and current inventory may not have its entire shelf life remaining when purchased. If you are ordering AP23 Winter Patties well in advance of use, contact Lappe's Bee Supply before ordering to confirm the expiration date of current inventory. Product remaining after its expiration date is not eligible for refund or replacement.
If merchandise arrives damaged, defective, missing, or incorrect, use Lappe's damaged, missing, defective, or incorrect merchandise reporting process. Heat-related melting remains subject to the warm-weather shipping terms above. For current order, shipping, return, cancellation, and related terms, review Lappe's Terms and Conditions and shipping information.
Customer Experiences
“This is my go-to staple for winter and early spring feeding before sugar water. The bees really like it and leave no waste behind.”
— Luke Galardi, March 18, 2026
“I have used this product in my hives for two years. I use at supplemental feed starting February.”
— Amanda Moody, February 3, 2023
Customer experiences reflect individual colonies and conditions. Feeding response and consumption can vary with colony population, existing stores, brood rearing, weather, season, feed accessibility, and other colony conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties?
Place 1–2 AP23 Winter Honey Bee Patties directly over the winter cluster on the top bars. Direct placement helps keep supplemental feed accessible to clustered bees during cold conditions.
Do I need to remove the wax paper?
No. The wax paper may remain on the AP23 Winter Patty during feeding.
How long should one winter patty last?
There is no fixed consumption interval for an AP23 Winter Patty. Consumption varies with colony population, existing and accessible stores, brood rearing, weather, season, and other colony conditions, so continue monitoring the colony rather than relying on a set number of days.
Does every colony need winter patties?
No. Supplemental feeding should be based on the colony's food situation and conditions rather than the calendar alone. Consider hive weight, accessible honey, cluster position, previous feed consumption, season, and weather.
What is the difference between AP23 Winter Patties and regular AP23 pollen patties?
AP23 Winter Patties are primarily carbohydrate-oriented cold-weather supplemental feed with 2.5% minimum crude protein. Regular AP23 pollen patties are a higher-protein pollen-substitute product with 15% crude protein and are intended for a different nutritional purpose.
Is it normal for a winter patty to feel soft?
Yes. Some softness and pliability are normal. Excessive melting or leakage, significantly damaged packaging, unusual discoloration or odor, or visible contamination deserve closer examination.
How should unused AP23 Winter Patties be stored?
Store unused AP23 Winter Patties below 70°F and out of direct sunlight. The product can soften or melt as temperatures rise.
What should I check if my bees are not eating the patty?
First check whether the patty is directly over or readily accessible to the cluster. Then consider whether the colony already has adequate accessible food, along with cluster location, season, weather, and current colony conditions. Slow consumption alone does not establish a product problem.
More Winter Feeding Resources
Not sure whether a colony has enough food? Read our Winter Feeding Honeybees Guide for more information on evaluating hive weight, stored honey, cluster position and winter feeding needs.
For additional guidance on evaluating winter food stores and supplemental feeding, visit Lappe's Bee Supply Winter Bee Feed & Feeding Supplies.
Lappe's Bee Supply has been a commercial beekeeping family since 1978 and has served beekeepers with equipment and practical beekeeping education since 2017. Our goal with winter feeding is straightforward: understand why the colony needs feed, keep supplemental food accessible when it is needed, and continue evaluating the colony as winter progresses.
