Sugar boards or candy boards provide emergency food sources for bee colonies to use during winter if their stores dwindle, making this simple device essential to their survival.
Many candy board recipes require “cooking” the sugar, which may produce harmful compounds (HMF) which could harm bees. This recipe employs a no-cook method which is more appropriate and safer for their bees.
Contents
Making a Frame
Honey bees need to store enough honey during the summer to see them through Winter, but this doesn’t always happen and they may starve to death if their stores don’t match demand. A sugar board provides an easy solution for feeding bees during this season without disturbing their hive.
Candy boards are shallow supers filled with sugar syrup heated to soft-ball stage and then beaten until stiff, then poured into frames and allowed to harden before bees can break through it and consume its nectar as required.
This recipe makes approximately three candy boards, but feel free to adjust accordingly. When assembling the frame, attach 1/2” hardware cloth using strong fence staples – this will prevent small beetles from accessing and damaging the candy board in any way.
Mixing the Sugar
As a beekeeper, your goal should be to ensure your honey bees have enough stored honey before Winter to avoid starvation. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen, but if their is insufficient you may consider adding no-cook candy boards, commercial winter patties, or DIY solutions such as sugar bricks as additional resources to supplement their supplies.
Southeastern Indiana Beekeepers Association’s sugar board recipe only requires 16 pounds of sugar and three cups of water. Combine both in a large container before slowly pouring one cup at a time into it; stir frequently after each addition of water.
Create a wet, grainy-textured sugar that can hold its form until drying. Fill and spread evenly onto a candy board frame lined with tissue paper or newspaper, cutting a hole for bee access if lining is done this way. Add it to your hive in January; periodically monitor its condition thereafter.
Pouring the Sugar
Many beekeepers use sugar boards as emergency winter feed, or as insurance against starvation during an especially severe season. Although not intended to replace honey altogether, this food will fill any gaps until spring arrives and their natural pollen sources return.
To create a sugar board, all you need is a frame with hardware cloth, parchment or newspaper, and a block of sugar. Beekeepers may opt to purchase forms specifically made for this task or use old hive bodies or super boxes as forms to form the edge of their candy boards.
Mix together sugar and water until it reaches “soft ball” stage (240degF on a candy thermometer). Pour the mixture into your form. Some beekeepers also add vinegar as an antimold agent, though this step is optional. Once it has set up completely, install your candy board into your hive.
Drying the Sugar
Some beekeepers turn to candy boards as a last resort in order to prevent their colonies from starving over winter. A candy board is simply a shallow super with sugar syrup cooked until soft ball stage, then poured into forms which can be installed over top of your hive for use during this period.
To create a candy board, begin by mixing sugar with vinegar in a large storage bucket. Gradually add water, stirring continuously as each cup is added – this will prevent the sugar from clumping and prevent mold growth on your candy board!
Once your candy board is complete, pour the sugar mixture into its form, packing it down evenly. Allow it to dry for 24 hours before installing over your hive; just be careful not to completely block off its upper entrance as that could restrict airflow and block bees from passing through it. Check on it regularly.
