An optimally functioning colony should have amassed enough honey and pollen by autumn for storage purposes; otherwise something is amiss in its functioning.
Late summer and fall are times when forage becomes scarce and supplement feeding should be considered. Supplement feeding doesn’t need to be complicated: just make sure the syrup closely resembles honey than spring sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water by weight), so that bees can easily convert it to stored food sources.
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Frame Feeders
Frame feeders are narrow boxes shaped like frames that sit within a beehive and can be used to feed sugar syrup or nutritional additives to bees. Made of plastic, frame feeders typically include a lid and ladder system designed to prevent bees from drowning in syrup, while restricting access to its main volume through ladders; any bees who enter will easily scale walls and climb out.
These feeders work down to -15 degrees but can become cumbersome to use during extremely cold conditions as the syrup may freeze solid. Furthermore, too close proximity may lead to robbing problems if placed too near to hive entrances.
Top Feeders are shallow boxes designed to sit atop a beehive. Lined with hardware cloth for quick drinking access while protecting them from drowning, they allow bees quick access to drinking nectar without drowning themselves. One downside of this method is having to open your hive whenever refilling takes place; thus compromising warmth of cluster.
Top Feeders
Feeding their colonies sugar syrup is something most beekeepers do on an ongoing basis, usually in spring and autumn. Feeding can help stimulate colony growth, sustain it through dearth periods or build sufficient winter stores.
Adrian the Bee Farmer from Hive Doctor demonstrates a top feeder from their company which fits easily on top of your beehive box and includes a little cover so bees can access. Shielded from direct sunlight, its wide open design makes refilling faster and simpler compared to gravity or frame feeders; plus it helps prevent syrup spillage as well as discourage potential robbers.
Filling a top feeder requires only taking off its lid and inner cover, leaving your colony undisturbed below. Checking on them while feeding is also less invasive than doing it through a frame feeder and you don’t need a smoker for this kind of feeder if medication needs arise.
Boardman Entrance Feeders
A boardman feeder is a white plastic feeding tray designed to fit into the entrance of your hive and support regular-sized mason jars of sugar water or syrup. When installed into its slot, your front cover covers it.
Sugar syrup levels in this feeder can easily be monitored from outside the hive, making this system suitable for warm climates from late spring through early fall. This feeder works best during warm periods.
Consideration should also be given to your climate and the way weather impacts nectar flow cycles; this will affect both how much and when you need to replenish sugar syrup supplies – helping you select an ideal bee feeder type for yourself.
Liquid Sugar Syrup
Fondant can help bees survive winter in areas without fall nectar flow by creating a thick sugar syrup composed of white sugar, water and small amounts of vinegar (apple cider or plain white). The vinegar helps convert sucrose to glucose and fructose which bees can use. Fondant can either be purchased premade as powder form or mixed yourself using all of the same ingredients found in liquid sugar syrup.
Thicker sugar syrup should be fed during September/early October after honey supers have been removed, when temperatures are warm enough for bees to quickly take up, invert, and store it within their combs. It’s also an ideal opportunity for feeding colonies that haven’t built enough stores and may be at risk of starvation; try feeding late at night if possible to prevent other colonies robbing you of nectar supply during nectar shortages.
