There are many options available when it comes to feeding your bees. There is Sugar syrup, Candy board, and Drivert sugar. But before you go shopping for these items, you should know what you should and shouldn’t give your bees. There are also several types of pollen patty. In this article, I’ll discuss some of the best options for feeding your bees. In the process, you’ll also learn about the importance of avoiding pesticides and odors.
Contents
Sugar syrup
There are many things to consider when selecting a sugar solution for feeding your bees. While table sugar is pure sucrose, it has a molecular formula of C12H22O11. Bees prefer inverted sugar, which has a lower GI. Beekeepers can also add multi-vitamin tablets to their syrup, which they have tried successfully and report good results. One way to do this is to dissolve a tablet in a half-glass of water, then mix it into the syrup.
Unlike humans, bees are not interested in adopting a low-carb lifestyle, and sugar is an excellent source of energy. They are used to collecting liquid foods, so they do not have a hard time digesting this. Bees will not refuse sugar if you give it to them in the form of syrup, and it will provide them with the energy they need for the winter. Aside from its nutritional value, sugar is also safe for your bees.
Candy board
If you’re interested in raising honey bees, you may be wondering about how to make a candy board. The idea is to place candy in a wooden block. You can remove the wooden blocks once the candy has formed. The wooden blocks provide ventilation and access to the hive entrance. Once the bees have formed candy, the wooden blocks can be removed. If you want to make your own candy board, follow these instructions:
To make the sugar syrup, you need to mix together 8 lbs of sugar and 1.5 cups of water or vinegar. Bring the mixture to a slow boil, stirring constantly. Add the pollen substitute and Honey B Healthy to the sugar syrup. Whisk the ingredients until the sugar mixture becomes thick. Let the candy mixture cool before placing it in the hive. The candyboard feeder should remain on the hive for at least 24 hours before removing.
Drivert sugar
Winter is the time for winter beekeepers to start feeding their bees. While they may be saving some honey to use in the spring, they may run out of resources during winter. Beekeepers who have hives in the winter should keep drivert sugar on hand in order to keep their colony alive. Drivert sugar is a great moisture absorbent and can be placed directly on the inner cover of the hive or over the Imhrie shim.
Various methods are used to feed your bees. Some people simply dump the dry sugar down the back of their hives. Others place it on the inner cover of the hive, then add a box on top of the hive. Another method is to put a frame feeder, which are black plastic troughs. To use this method, you must have a solid bottom board.
Pollen patty
If you want to encourage your bee colonies to make more brood, you should consider providing them with pollen patties. The bees need both a protein and carbohydrate source, and they get these from sugar syrup and honey. However, they will not feed on these substances once they have found nectar from flowers. Pollen patties will be very helpful for encouraging bees to lay more eggs.
While natural pollen is preferred by honeybees, some may use pollen substitutes when conditions change or when a shortage occurs. Pollen substitutes are convenient and easy to use. Just make sure the product you’re buying is well-known and has a good ingredients list. The pollen patty that you buy should be fresh and free from any chemicals. Pollen substitutes are also better for the bees’ health than artificial pollen.
Frame feeders
When feeding your bees with syrup or honey, you will want to use frame feeders. This is because they can supply your bees with the syrup or honey in less time than traditional feeders. However, they have their negative points. First, you have to enter the hive, which will disturb the bees. Second, frame feeders are not as easy to clean as a traditional one. Third, feeding your bees can be dangerous if you accidentally spill some syrup or treatment on them.
You can install frame feeders to your hive for a variety of different purposes. You can use one that replaces one deep box frame. This feeder is best for existing hives and should be used from late fall to early spring. You can use liquid Feed for Bees with Essential Oils in it to provide your bees with a natural, healthy food source. These feeders do require assembly and you should check the directions carefully before using them.
Using a freezer bag
If you have been thinking about using a freezer bag to feed your bee colony, then you’re not alone. This is the most convenient way to feed your bees and it is a very effective method. However, it is important to use it correctly. Bees cannot feed in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as they will not venture out of the hive to collect their feed. The first step to feeding your colony using a freezer bag is to fill the bag about 3/4 of the way up. Don’t overfill the bag, though, or the feed will leak out when you cut it. Then, put a queen excluder on top of the baggie.
Fill the bag halfway full with sugar syrup. Then, place it on top of the frames, making sure to make sure that the holes are not too big to squish the bees. If the bag is full, then the bees will have trouble accessing the syrup. If you are concerned about the amount of sugar syrup in the bag, you can use a frame feeder instead.
