One of the most common problems of feeding bees in summer is inconsistent nectar flow. This causes some colonies to become heavy and others to become light. This often results in a combination of the two colonies catching up on what they’ve been lacking. When feeding bees in summer, it is important to observe your colony’s needs to avoid overfeeding.
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Sugar water
Feeding bees in summer requires a little bit of extra preparation. The first step is to mix sugar with water. Then, place the container about 100 yards from the hive. This distance is important because bees find sugar water syrup difficult to find if it is too close.
Feeding bees is important for your colony. You need to provide enough food for the new brood and for the colony as a whole. A 2:1 sugar syrup is ideal for preserving the syrup, which will be thicker and more convenient to serve. In addition, thicker syrup contains less water.
In some cases, sugar water is not good for bees. Bees can get sick or die from ingesting it. It is best to give sugar water only when necessary. This will help you keep your colony healthy and happy.
Syrup
During the summer months, you can feed your bees sugar water instead of honey. However, if you’ve recently started raising your own bees, you may want to stop feeding them sugar water once the flowers start blooming. This will allow them to establish a strong colony.
To make syrup, mix sugar and water in a one to two ratio. Stir the sugar well and ensure that it’s completely dissolved. Then pour the mix into the feeder. You can add essential oils like spearmint to make it more appealing. Spearmint is particularly beneficial for your bees because it fights varroa and tracheal mites.
A light syrup is better than a heavy syrup, and it’s more digestible for bees. Light syrup is also good for early-season colonies, as it helps to stimulate the bees. It’s also useful for feeding captured swarms.
Fondant bee candy
If you want to feed your bees in the summer, you can make your own fondant bee candy. These solid pieces of sugar are made with a recipe that is easily available online. Bees can eat them when they need to, but they won’t eat any that are left over. Pollen is their main source of protein, and they can’t live on sugar alone.
The fondant is made by mixing equal parts of sugar and water, and then pouring it onto a non-stick surface. The bees can feed off of the fondant easily, because it’s a moist substance. However, you should check your beehive every few weeks to check for moisture levels and add more fondant if necessary.
Sugar can ferment and become mouldy. Fortunately, a teaspoon of surgical spirit or Thymol will prevent the syrup from becoming contaminated with bacteria.
Frame feeders
Frame feeders are containers that fit inside the hive and replace one or more brood nest frames. Most are deep box feeders, but there are also medium box feeders. They also vary in volume. Older models were made from folded tins dipped in wax, but modern models are made from plastic.
There are several ways to place a sugar syrup feeder in the hive. First, you need a clean container with 6-8 small holes. Next, you need to remove the cardboard inserts that come with jars. You can then place 12mm high risers across the top bars of the top box of the hive. Next, place the container on the risers.
You can also use pail feeders to feed your colony. These require some additional equipment. These feeders are designed to fit the body of the hive and are positioned over the entrance. Unlike frame feeders, pail feeders do not require opening the hive to re-fill them. Plus, you can check on the hive without having to open it.
