At times of low nectar flow, bees must supplement their diet with sugar for increased brood production and to build their stores for winter. Thin or thick sugar syrups may be fed depending on the season to boost brood production and build stores within their colony.
Pollen substitutes should also be introduced into your diet early spring or late fall when there is limited access to flower sources. This supplementation may prove especially helpful.
Contents
1. Honey
Honey is not only a delicious natural sweetener, but it is also packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients such as B2, niacin, folate acid, calcium iron potassium zinc.
Worker bees gather nectar throughout the summer in order to stock their hive’s pharmacy for winter. This nectar pharmacy consists of water and sugar bound together via an enzyme process.
Beekeepers provide their colonies with a sugar syrup composed of one part granulated sugar to two parts lukewarm water, as this ratio mimics the plant nectar content. Brown or molasses sugar should never be used because this can leave your colony sick or even dead. Plastic feeder pails, hive top feeders, division board feeders and empty drawn comb feeders can all be used to give bees access to their feed – or fondant can even be created using fondant in extreme winter conditions!
2. Water
Bees find nectar from flowers to be their ideal food source, providing energy and creating honey in equal measures. Bees use nectar as energy-packed energy source while simultaneously producing honey from its precious substances.
Bees need to be supplemented when their honey stores decrease unexpectedly due to circumstances beyond their control, such as an unexpected winter freeze, poor weather or unexpected dearth in autumn. This may require new packages being installed or an increase in poor weather patterns reducing stores of honey in autumn reducing availability for feeding bees.
Sugar syrups are easily digested by bees and stimulate brood production, making feeding important both during spring when colonies are growing quickly to take advantage of abundant nectar flow as well as in late winter to encourage brood building before winter’s dearth arrives.
Some beekeepers employ dry table sugar by spreading it across their hive mat or placing trays under their lid, where it works well during early summer and autumn when humidity levels are high. We don’t advise this approach during hot, dry summers when bees may have difficulty liquidifying crystalized sugar and store for later consumption.
3. Sugar
Bees need extra food stored for when winter approaches; in such instances a 1:1 sugar water ratio mimics nectar quality to promote storage of food for later. This strategy is especially helpful during periods of dearth or during autumn as bees prepare to survive winter.
Dry white sugar mixed with water in a feeder or hive mat provides bees with an easily consumable liquid source they can consume quickly. Hot water works best as its heat helps dissolve sugar crystals more readily.
Some beekeepers use entrance feeders which can easily be placed near their hives for quick check and replacement, though these types of feeders tend to attract robbers and can be difficult to move without disturbing the bees. Some beekeepers also add essential oils like lemongrass or spearmint essential oil into their sugar mixes in order to help prevent mold growth while decreasing odor levels.
4. Pollen Patties
Beekeepers sometimes employ pollen patties as an additional protein source when natural pollen becomes scarce, though be wary when using this strategy as overstimulation may cause bee colonies to produce too many brood cells before natural pollen returns in full force.
Pollen patties should generally only be utilized from late winter into early Spring when colonies begin increasing brood production in anticipation of spring nectar flows.
Pollen patties are usually constructed of dry pollen mixed with sugar syrup and essential oils that encourage bees to consume them. Once in the hive, bees will transport these patties for consumption as necessary; but beware: some patties may attract Small Hive Beetles that could otherwise gain entry; thus it is wise to store them away from any outer edges of the hive in order to prevent SHB entry.
