Sugar syrup feedings may become necessary if a colony enters winter with limited stores, or weather patterns hinder foraging efforts.
Some beekeepers prefer a denser syrup of 2:1 (two parts sugar to one part water). This thicker solution can help support brood production in spring.
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1. Using a jar
Feeding bees is an economical and simple solution when using a clean jar to provide their sustenance. Just fill it halfway with sugar syrup, make sure that its lid has 6-8 small holes using a nail and punch, and install it directly on top of frames in the top box of your hive before replacing its cover.
If you have many bees, a freezer bag is also an effective way of providing them with sustenance. Just don’t overfill it; otherwise it will spill when placed atop the hive. Instead, cut a 3″ (or longer slit for gallon-sized bags) slit on its flat upper surface where bees will find a way in. They’ll use this slit as their route into sucking up their sugar water supply.
2. Using a freezer bag
A gallon zip lock bag filled with up to three quarts of sugar water is placed atop each hive box and small slits cut with a razor blade in its top surface, so bees can access and drink until their bottle is empty. This solution is both inexpensive and simple to implement; perfect for warm or cold climates alike!
Problematic feeders send mixed messages, encouraging bees to produce brood at times when they should not, while also drawing in robber bees that cause additional problems. Some beekeepers try to counter this with open feeders, which may lead to drowning bees as well. No matter which method you select for feeding bees, always ensure a 1:1 ratio when providing their food source.
3. Using a frame feeder
Frame feeders are an efficient and time-saving way to provide sugar syrup to beehives. By offering direct in-hive access to their contents and protecting the bees from drowning or robbing attempts, frame feeders make feeding your bees much simpler while saving both energy and time! They’re easily monitored, checked and refilled when necessary saving you both time and effort in the process.
To make a simple frame feeder, fill any clean container, such as a jar with lid, with sugar syrup. Drill or punch holes into its lid so bees can access the syrup like they would nectar from flowers. This enables them to access it more readily.
RancherMan typically installs his jar inside of the hive before taking steps to allow bees direct access. This method minimizes disturbance to the beehive while still enabling him to check and refill it without needing to open up his hive.
4. Using a frame feeder with a lid
Frame feeders are small hive boxes designed to let bees access sugar syrup through a ladder system. Each feeder also comes equipped with a cap to protect from rain and robbers. To create one yourself, build two 1/2″ risers out of wood and set them onto your top bars before inverting the sugar syrup jar onto these risers before placing on your hive.
Frame feeders present a challenge when bees fall into their syrup and drown, but beekeepers can mitigate this issue by adding a float or ladder to their feeder. These additions are particularly helpful during late winter and early spring when weather is often damp. A hive top feeder presents similar drawbacks but may provide emergency backup in times of bad conditions.
5. Using a hive top feeder
For those wishing to feed syrup directly at the entrance of the hive, hive top feeders provide an effective means. Like jars but with perforated lids that enable bees to access sugar water without it spilling out all at once.
These feeders come in various sizes to fit 10-frame hives. Constructed of wood, these dispensers can hold 1-2 gallons of syrup. Sitting atop the telescoping top and filled without disrupting the hive’s structure, refills can easily be accomplished without disrupting its vitality.
Bees need sugar syrup to build their winter stores and rear their brood. Feed your colonies some type of sugar syrup in both fall and spring to ensure its survival, taking care not to overfeed or it may starve off entirely.
