If you’ve ever wondered if spring bee syrup is safe for your bees, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few tips on how to make it, as well as what it can do for your bees.
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Medicated syrup is preferably fed in the spring
In the Pacific Northwest (PNW), commercial beekeepers report feeding their colonies between 1.5 and 8 gallons of syrup in the autumn to prepare for winter. However, it is not uncommon to see colonies that run out of stores in the early spring. For beekeepers with limited resources, an emergency winter feed of dry sugar may be a viable option.
Aside from the usual suspects like honey and pollen, bees also seek out protein sources such as larvae and adult brood. One way to stimulate colony growth is to feed a small amount of protein supplement, such as a piece of molasses or a small sprig of thyme.
The best bet for a successful and timely spring feeding regimen involves a tray feeder. This consists of a small hole in the inner cover. It is important to be patient and wait for the syrup to drip before covering the hole.
Can bees make honey from sugar water?
If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to feed your bees, you should check out the recipe for sugar water for bees. Using a combination of granulated sugar and water, you can create a liquid feeding supplement that will keep your bees healthy.
The sugar water for bees recipe is easy to follow, but there are some important steps that must be followed to ensure success. You need to use the right ingredients, store it properly, and feed it to your bees in the correct quantities.
There are two basic methods of making sugar water for bees. The first is a simple recipe that includes water, granulated sugar, and a few additives. The second is a more complex process that requires more than a few ingredients.
Pollen patties stimulate the production of brood
In the spring, beekeepers provide protein supplements to honey bee colonies to increase brood production. This practice is particularly critical in the grassland region of Southern Alberta, where there are short growing seasons and little early spring forage.
A study was conducted in Southern Alberta to evaluate whether a commercial protein feed supplement would stimulate the production of brood. Bees were fed three different protein feed treatments in the spring. These treatments included Global 15%, Global 0%, and Bee Pollen-Ate.
Compared to unsupplemented controls, the supplemented colonies had more adult bees and produced more brood. However, the amount of feed consumed by the unsupplemented colonies was significantly higher.
The protein feeds were tested in the spring before hybrid canola pollination. All the treatments contained all ten essential amino acids. There were differences in the amount of lysine and arginine, however.
Medicated syrup is safe from freezing
The best medicated spring bee syrup will have a couple of ingredients. This includes an essential oil blend that helps to keep mites away and some lemongrass oil. These are mixed with water until the mix reaches a certain concentration.
The key to making this syrup is to ensure that the water is not too hot. Boiling the mixture will change its chemical composition. This will make it indigestible for the bees. Also, the evaporation process is not easy during cold weather. It is advisable to store excess syrup in the refrigerator or in plastic jugs.
While bees do not boil syrup, it is not a bad idea to give them something to help speed up the process. As an example, you can mix a small amount of syrup with pollen. Pollen has many benefits for bees, such as providing protein for small workers.
Storage of sugar syrup to prevent HMF from forming
Spring bee syrup has to be stored well to avoid the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). This substance is known to be toxic to bees.
The amount of HMF produced by a colony may vary, but the Codex Alimentarius Commission suggests a maximum of 40 ppm. When honey is heated to produce the syrup, the fructose portion of the sugar breaks down to form hydroxymethylfurfural.
For this reason, commercial beekeepers should store their HFCS in a temperature controlled facility. They also should not mix the HFCS with water.
High-fructose corn syrup has been found to be harmful to bees. It is toxic due to the chemical properties of fructose.
HFCS should be stored in clean plastic containers, away from sunlight and heat. Beekeepers should also sterilize the jugs before storing.