Alternatively, medium to strong colonies that do not produce much honey require alternative sugar sources for winter survival. They may benefit from being fed dry white table sugar placed either directly onto hive mats or placed directly beneath their lid.
Syrup can also be fed to bees through frame feeders – containers sized like Langstroth frames that sit atop risers in the hive and allow easy feeding of syrupy solutions to their bees.
Contents
1. Place it on top of the inner cover
One method is to place dry sugar directly on top of the inner cover for emergency feeding purposes only when starvation threatens. Bees will need to work together with moisture from their breath to liquefy these crystals as the only food source available to them.
Some beekeepers spritz their mound of sugar with water before placing it over the inner cover, to prevent it from solidifying and fall off during windstorms. Although this step is optional, it may help ensure it remains on your hive during windy conditions.
Other methods include candy boards, fondant and sugar bricks – these require more work in the kitchen but offer distinct advantages over granulated sugar feed as they allow protein-rich food without them needing to leave their winter cluster. Furthermore, they’re more stable and suitable for various weather conditions – even being placed over an entire cluster in mountain camp rims, empty supers or an Eke body for consumption by bees! Ensure it remains close by so they’re able to consume it!
2. Place it in a frame feeder
Commercial frame feeders are convenient and inexpensive to use, often holding more than a gallon in capacity and easily refillable. Some beekeepers prefer using denser syrup (also known as 2:1) when feeding in fall/winter when honey stores have become low.
To create a sugar syrup, boil water in a large container before removing from the heat and adding sugar until dissolved. Beware reboiling as caramelization could render some bees indigestible to their food source.
Some beekeepers prepare a sugar solution in a plastic freezer bag and place it between the inner cover and brood box of their hive, inserting the sugar solution between these boxes. Next, several layers of newspaper are laid over it before being spritzed with water until crusting over occurs – an approach known as mountain camp feeding method that may prove quicker and simpler while possibly drowning fewer bees than traditional frame feeders.
3. Place it in a bottom board feeder
There are various kinds of feeders available, but my personal favorite is the Miller feeder which sits atop hives and holds sugar syrup. With tight closure and screen bottom board to prevent entry by robbers, it comes in various sizes with some having open access while others limit consumption so only small portions at a time can be eaten by bees.
Candy boards are another type of feeders used in winter to feed beehives. Betterbee offers pre-formulated winter patties which can also serve as alternatives, as these contain energy-packed carbohydrates as well as fat and proteins for energy replenishment and seem to work very effectively in our climate.
4. Place it in a hive super
Feeding sugar syrup to a colony during winter should generally be avoided, since daily and nightly temperature variations will cause liquid to drain from its container, potentially contaminating bees or even landing directly onto them.
If winter feedings must occur, unaltered dry granulated sugar is an ideal choice as it doesn’t need to be heated before being placed in a super with the lid facing down for reduced risk of contamination or robbing.
Alternative feeding methods include using candy boards, fondant or baggie feeders – typically composed of gallon-sized zip lock bags with one side slit open – on top of your hive with its oblong hole facing down towards the cluster. You could also utilize Winter-Bee-Kind feeders which contain large pieces of candy poured directly on them that face downward toward their cluster.
