Early spring is a period of transition for honey bee colonies. After winter, they often emerge with low adult populations, limited food stores and undeveloped brood levels.
Supplemental feeding can be especially helpful during this transition period to ensure successful egg laying, brood rearing and colony development. Bees in particular are highly vulnerable during this time to starvation.
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Sugar
In early spring and times of nectar shortage, beekeepers sometimes provide sugar water to their colonies. This helps the insects survive until natural nectar supplies return.
Feeding sugar water to bees can be a simple way to help save a colony that may be starving, but it’s essential to know when it’s time to stop. Giving bees too much sugar water may lead to stress, famine and illness in your hive.
When feeding your bees sugar water, mix it with two parts water at a ratio of one part sugar to two parts water. Place this mixture into a feeder and provide it to the bees.
Dry white table sugar is a popular choice for medium to strong bee colonies that need an extra protein boost, particularly during this time of year when pollen supplies are high. Bees will source water from outside their hive or use condensation from within to liquefy sugar crystals into a partially syrup.
High-Protein Supplements
Colonies require supplemental foods to meet their nutritional requirements when natural resources aren’t readily available, such as early spring and other times when brood rearing isn’t going smoothly or there’s a shortage of nectar and pollen, such as late winter or a drought.
Protein is an essential nutrient for bees to build their queen and larvae as well as to make milk, royal jelly, and honey. A high-protein supplement such as Hive Alive Bee Pollen Patties can be added to their diet during this time in order to increase protein intake and help them grow strong.
Studies have demonstrated that protein supplements can help colonies survive low food supplies and harsh weather conditions. They also promote colony development and boost queen egg production, making the hive stronger and more efficient – enabling beekeepers to harvest honey more effectively. Furthermore, protein supplements reduce the risk of varroa mites and Nosema infestations.
Nutrients
Bees require a range of nutrients to stay healthy. These include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.
Honey bees, like many other species of bee, obtain most of their carbohydrates from nectar or honey. Additionally, they feed on pollen.
As certain plant species only bloom for a brief period, beekeepers should pay special attention to when they supplement their bees’ nutrition. Protein supplementary feeding should begin prior to the bloom in order to build up overwintered low population colonies back up to optimal strength for any specific honey flow or pollination service.
Carbohydrate supplementary feeding may be necessary when colonies lack honey reserves and an unfavorable foraging situation prevents storage of food. Common carbohydrate supplement foods include cane or beet sugar (dry or sirup form) and isomerized corn sirup.
Honey bees require a high-protein diet for brood rearing and queen development. A protein supplementary food such as pollen patties can be provided to meet these requirements.
Water
Water is one of the most essential elements in nature. It comes from our taps, flows through rivers and oceans, and even forms clouds and fog.
Bees also benefit from this food source, so adding it to your spring feeding plan could be beneficial. It helps them build up a healthy population before the blossoms start, as well as making more honey.
To make the perfect syrup, you’ll need the correct type of water and sugar syrup. You can either purchase a pre-made mixture or prepare your own from scratch.
For each cup of sugar you mix in, you will need at least 2 quarts (2 liters). For additional benefits, add some lemongrass or spearmint essential oil for flavor.
