Engaging bees in spring foraging is an essential task, and feeding is one way to do just that.
Jim and Jeff discuss the most efficient ways of feeding sugar syrup to bees prior to flower bloom. This discussion includes feeders positioned by entrance (Boardman entrance feeder, hive top feeder, division board feeders) as well as division board feeders.
Contents
Feeding Options
Sugar syrup or honey should be added directly back into their hive for feeding purposes. Entrance feeders may not be ideal as bees must break apart their cluster in order to access it, leading to potential robber activity and disease spread. Instead, division board or double jar feeders offer superior solutions.
Many beekeepers utilize high-protein supplements like brewer’s yeast, soy flour, essential oils and pollen from their own colonies mixed with sugar water to aid the bees’ preparations for Spring nectar flows. Although DIY kits such as Dadant’s AP23 Pollen Substitute make this easy at home, many prefer buying premade versions such as theirs which take the guesswork out of selecting appropriate ingredients and proportions.
Some beekeepers use “pollen patties” to promote brood production and add protein and moisture into their hive, available from most local apiaries or online. These may also help encourage brood laying. These products may be purchased from any number of locations such as local beekeeping apiaries or online.
Feeding Sugar Syrup
Sugar syrup is an efficient way of providing bees with food, often consisting of two parts sugar to one part water. Some beekeepers add additional supplements like brewer’s yeast for increased nutrition.
Hive top feeders can be an excellent solution as they allow the bees to feed close to their colony while also being used as an indicator for syrup levels.
An entrance feeder is ineffective as bee clusters need to travel down the sides of their hive in cold weather to reach it, making for difficult travel logistics and maintaining heat while making their journey to and from it. Furthermore, fighting between bees over an entrance feeder may result in their drowning in syrup or being caught up in its mesh mesh resulting in their demise; hence its not recommended as an effective feeding method; instead a division board feeder provides more reliable feeding solution.
Feeding Inside the Hive
Beekeepers may choose between various feeder options when feeding their hive: frame feeder, boardman feeder or pail feeder are three popular choices, with the latter two having been designed for ease of use in cold climates. A hive top feeder that resembles a super can also be placed on top of the inner cover but this requires bees to travel far before reaching their syrup reservoir – something which could prove tricky in cold weather conditions.
Division board feeders should always be used where possible as these act like frames in a hive, making access easier for bees. Some beekeepers add extra nutrients such as Honey B Healthy or Hiveworld Brood Powder into their syrup to strengthen and stimulate colonies. When feeding sugar syrup make sure to take precautions so as not to attract ants!
Feeding Outside the Hive
One of the easiest and least costly ways to feed a colony is with pail feeders – small plastic buckets equipped with mesh feeder holes that hold 1 gallon of sugar water, placed directly atop of their hive to bees which will feed from it directly.
This method is popular since it doesn’t involve opening the hive and can help lower risk of robbing. However, it is still essential to monitor bees to make sure that they do not consume too much syrup.
Sugar-water mixture should not be confused with actual honey; rather it acts as a supplement food source during poor foraging conditions. Pure cane sugar should be obtained through Booker in Llandudno Junction (trade only); Conwy BKA members receive discounts by showing their membership card here.
