In times of drought or nectar shortage, honey bees must be fed sugar water to stay healthy and strong until their next nectar source. This ensures they remain productive until a new wave of nectar arrives.
Making sugar water is easiest by dissolving organic sugar in water at a ratio of 2:1 or 1:10. To achieve optimal flavor and clarity, add your crystallized sugar at about an equal volume to water for easy mixing.
Contents
How to Make Sugar Water
When a hive is struggling to produce enough honey, the bees need additional food sources. Feeding sugar water can help sustain the colony and keep it from going into winter.
Bees require carbohydrates for survival, and a high-carb diet is the best way to ensure they have enough energy to keep their colonies healthy and strong. It also gives them time to prepare for winter by stocking up on supplies in preparation of an extended cold spell ahead.
Create delicious sugar water by stirring equal parts white table sugar and hot (but not boiling) water together. Adjust the ratio according to the season for best results.
When feeding dry sugar to bees, the ideal time is autumn or spring when humidity levels are high. This helps them liquefy crystals into syrup more quickly. However, do not feed dry sugar to weak colonies as they may not have sufficient water from outside or within their hive to adequately process the nectar.
How Much Sugar Water to Feed the Bees
Bees require carbohydrates to survive, and nectar is one of the best sources. Bees collect this liquid flower nectar, transport it back to their hive and store it as honey in wax cells within their wax cells.
However, there may be times when a colony doesn’t receive enough nectar to sustain their growth. This could be due to drought, cold snaps, disease or pests like varroa that destroy crops.
These situations can be highly stressful on a colony of bees. To alleviate this stress, beekeepers can feed their honeybees sugar water.
For optimal bee health and happiness, two quarts (2 liters) of sugar water should be fed per day. This amount is enough to ensure the bees’ happiness without depleting its resources too quickly.
Do I Need a Bee Feeder?
When bees are unable to access their usual source of food, sugar water may be offered in order to supplement their diet. This practice is common when introducing a colony into an existing hive or during times when food supplies are limited – such as at the start of spring or fall.
Sugar water for bees comes in several varieties. Entrance feeders, top feeders, and frame feeders all work the same.
Entrance feeders are jars that sit at the entrance of a hive and can easily be checked for contents. Unfortunately, this type of feeder attracts robbers, making it unsuitable for new or weak hives or during times of scarcity.
Top feeders are the most practical and secure type of bee feeder to use, as they can be monitored without opening up the hive. Unfortunately, they usually only hold a small amount of sugar water and must be refilled regularly. Furthermore, top feeders often crack over time and require regular inspections for safety.
How Much Sugar Water Should I Feed the Bees?
Beekeepers often turn to sugar water when nectar is scarce, such as during times of drought or cold weather. Unfortunately, this practice can have detrimental effects on the health of your honeybees.
Sugar water can be a useful short-term energy boost or to help struggling colonies stay warm during the winter. However, this should not be used as an ongoing feeding strategy.
Seasonally, different amounts of sugar and water must be used. Knowing your ratios will help determine how much sugar to feed your bees.
For instance, in the springtime, feed sugar water to encourage your queen bee to lay more eggs and increase worker bee numbers. Doing this will allow them to collect more food sources and ultimately result in greater honey production.
