As fall approaches, now is the time to think about preparing your honeybee colonies for winter by giving them some extra sustenance and energy.
Sugar syrup is the go-to feeding option. A 2:1 ratio should provide optimal results; two parts sugar to one part water.
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Feeding syrup
Feeding syrup to your colonies before winter can be an effective way to bolster their stores and help ensure they will survive the harsh environment. A 2:1 sugar/water ratio produces thicker honey-like consistency syrup which bees can process easier than nectar.
Fall is the season when colonies work to store energy-rich food sources to stay warm during winter, which is why it’s essential to feed them a concentrated syrup they can quickly dehydrate and store away for future use.
To create this syrup, boil your desired water supply until just short of boiling and remove from the stove before mixing in sugar. Allow this solution to cool slightly before pouring it into feeders that fit inside the hive (such as frame or top feeders ) as this allows refilling without opening the hive door.
Feeding fondant
Fondant is a solid sugar block available through wholesale bakers or beekeeping suppliers that bees can utilize during periods of low forage. Similar in texture and composition to rock candy, fondant has an abundance of sucrose which doesn’t spoil in the hive and can even be used when conditions are cold or wet; additionally it makes use simpler since fondant can be directly placed into the hive without breaking open frames or breaking open the hive itself.
Some beekeepers prefer adding feeding stimulants such as Honey-B-Healthy to their fondant mixture to increase bee foraging activity and improve health. It is also important to remember that while fondant is a sugar substitute, bees still require protein from pollen collected in their daily activities; some beekeepers therefore choose to mix fondant with pollen patties as part of their feeding regime.
Feeding sugar water
Sugar water is an easy and cost-effective way to provide bees with energy in autumn. Simply create large batches, store it in buckets or feeders, and feed to them when feeding your bees – make sure all sugar has completely dissolvated; failure to do this may result in bacteria invading their hive and spreading diseases like mites and mites.
OMAFRA recommends feeding beehives a 2:1 sugar/water ratio during fall feedings, which will provide more concentrated sugar-water solutions than what was administered in spring (1:1 syrup). This strategy will enable bees to build their winter stores more easily while simultaneously helping prevent brood loss, one of the leading causes of hive collapse.
To create sugar water, combine equal portions of granulated sugar and warm water in a large pot and stir continuously until all of the sugar has fully dissolv. Use cup measurements if possible but for best results it is better to weigh both quantities to ensure you achieve an appropriate ratio.
Feeding honey
If your colonies require extra stores before autumn arrives, syrup can provide the solution. Bees are known to easily digest it and it requires less energy than dehydrating honey; to maximize bee health when using syrup as food source, the ideal ratio should be 2:1 sugar to water so bees can quickly process it.
Honey stores may be low for various reasons; drought may have had an impact, killing off blooming vegetation; nectar dearth may be to blame; nectar dearths typically occur between summer and fall when sources of nectar begin dwindling away.
No matter the cause of low stores, supplementation feeding must be conducted carefully to avoid problems like robbing and brood nest congestion. To do so without further disrupting their lives, internal hive top feeders with smaller entrances are best in order to discourage robbers while it would also be wise to position the feeding station away from other hives so as to prevent cross-contamination between colonies.