Early spring finds bees with very limited resources stored up and a great deal of work ahead, which is why some beekeepers feed their colonies early in the season.
Jim and Jeff discuss various methods they employ when feeding their bees in early spring, recommending using a frame feeder as one effective strategy.
Contents
1. Sugar Syrup
Sugar syrup can provide bees with something they can quickly consume, as well as help build their stores up for winter so that they have enough to last through cold, dry autumn weather.
When creating sugar syrup it’s essential to follow an appropriate ratio, such as 1:1 during spring and 2:1 in the autumn months. Also important when measuring by weight rather than volume as using measuring cups that hold two cups won’t yield an accurate proportion due to water’s greater density than sugar.
Some beekeepers leave an open sugar syrup feeder out for bees to access; this should not be done, as bees could drown in the syrup and it is easy for robbers to find. A better approach would be creating a Miller Feeder or one similar like it shown below – basically an inch or so back from the front of their box with bee entrance access over its top.
2. Pollen Patties
Bees require protein for creating brood, so beekeepers often supplement pollen patties containing high protein and low sugar to support weak colonies and avoid early swarming, which occurs when more bees emerge than can be cared for by their colony. These supplements also serve to bolster weak colonies while helping avoid early swarming that often happens when too many bees emerge prematurely.
Pollen patties should be used at the end of winter once colonies begin their renewal phase. It is important to remember that pollen patties should not replace natural sources of protein as pollen patties can stimulate too early and increase brood production too rapidly, potentially leading to overcrowding and starvation later on in the season.
Making homemade patties is easy: combine equal parts of pollen, brewer’s yeast and sugar syrup in a large bowl until all components have been evenly combined. Shape patties into desired shapes before placing them directly above clusters on your hive tops.
3. Dry Sugar
Lack of foraging resources early spring can result in beehives being slow to begin their comb building efforts, particularly new packages. Supplementing their diet with sugar may help them keep pace. A candy board can help bees do just this. A one by three box with a lid filled with candy poured inside can be placed near the top of a hive and access by bees near its edges.
By choosing dry sugar instead of syrup, beekeepers can more effectively control how much goes into their hive and at what pace their bees can consume it. At this time however, care must be taken not to add too much moisture into their environment.
Sugar syrup should also not be fed when honey collection supers are on a hive as this will encourage robbing and draw pests to your hive. If necessary, use granulated sugar instead of liquid sugar syrup as this may have more of an impact.
4. Fruits
Honey bees begin foraging as soon as the daytime temperatures consistently warm, and supplemental feeding may help your colony or package bees get underway quickly and begin drawing comb.
Bees require high protein supplements to maintain their populations and raise brood in spring. Many beekeepers create their own DIY mixtures from ingredients like brewer’s yeast, soy flour and pollen from their hives; but you can also find premade products like Dadant’s AP23 Pollen Substitute which is designed for easy absorption by bees.
Grow vegetables or allow corn and squash plants to flower can provide bees with early spring forage. When food supplies become limited during periods of poor foraging conditions, more diversity of produce should be available as an early spring source of sustenance for bees.
