Beekeeping requires feeding bees sugar water as part of their care routine, whether to help them survive periods of nectar deficiency or encourage workers to be produced before nectar flows begin.
Feeding should always include mixing water and sugar at an ideal ratio to fit each season’s conditions – using any incorrect proportions could prove disastrous and harm bee colonies.
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Feeding jars
There are various methods to provide bees with sugar water. One option is using a mason jar such as the Boardman feeder. A paint can with holes, plastic pail with lid, or even a quart jar are also all viable solutions for feeding bees sugar water.
Feeding jars are an effective way to support honey bee colonies during periods of poor weather or limited forage availability. A homemade sugar water mix in the ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 sugar to water may also work effectively.
No matter which jar you select – mason jar or quart – the key to successful syrup harvesting lies in having one with a shallow lid so bees don’t drown in their sugar water supply. Furthermore, your chosen container must also include an outlet notch which allows a small stream of syrup to escape at a time; this helps keep it fresh while preventing it from turning cloudy or discolored over time.
Entrance feeders
An entrance feeder is an effective and straightforward method of providing honeybees with sugar water, sitting outside their beehive. Bees access it through holes in its lid.
Entrance feeders are common among Langstroth and Warre hives (though some individuals also use them in Top Bar hives), making monitoring simple. Their main downside, however, is that liquid may freeze in cold weather conditions or bees may not be able to access it in time.
Internal top feeders, which sit atop a hive, are widely considered the superior choice as they enable refilling without disturbing the beehive.
When selecting an entrance feeder, ensure the jar is large enough for bees to stand upon it and not drown if they fall in. Furthermore, ensure it comes equipped with a non-leaking lid.
Hive feeders
Hive feeders provide bees with access to sugar water during cold months and may also help new colonies or those recovering from illness to stay nourished with essential nutrition.
The ideal hive feeders are constructed from sturdy materials that can withstand years of use without becoming damaged or worn-down, such as mason jars and frame feeders.
These boxes are specifically designed to fit a 10-frame hive, featuring compartments designed to prevent bees from drowning. Not only are they affordable and straightforward to install – they’re also very cost-effective and quick to set up!
Fill your hive feeder with syrup and then cover it for best results. Never leave a full jar sitting out like an all-you-can-eat buffet as bees will quickly devour it, while robber bees may find it attractive and try to steal.
An alternative option would be using a frame feeder, which remains inside the hive and replaces one of the brood frames. Its open top allows bees access to sugar water which can then be replenished.
Dry sugar
Bees need both sugar and pollen/protein for energy. Bees have become adept at foraging for nectar in blossoms to get enough pollen/protein to store through winter months.
When there are no flowers around for bees to collect or when new colonies have been established, they may require extra food in order to survive until blooming resumes. Granulated sugar may provide them with enough nutrition so they remain strong until spring arrives.
There are various methods for providing dry sugar: some people lay out newspapers and pour in the sugar while others use frame feeders (like black plastic trough type feeders or canning jars with airtight lids) or canning jars with airtight seals to provide it.
Dry sugar feeding can be an economical and simpler alternative to solid winter feeds such as candy boards, fondant, or sugar bricks for most beekeepers. Granulated sugar may disintegrate quickly when not taken up by bees and lead to wasted money and effort in your kitchen.
