If you’re not sure what to feed your bees, don’t worry. The answer lies in the fruit that you eat, sugar water, and royal jelly. In the next section, you’ll find out the exact ratio of sugar to water that you should use. And here’s a handy chart for calculating the proportions. Just remember that sugar weighs about twice as much as water, so you should start with two cups of sugar per quart of water.
Contents
Fruits
It is common for a beekeeper to give his hive agave nectar, but it is unsafe for bees. The fruit is rich in fructose, a sugar that bees need and doesn’t require much energy to digest. In addition to nectar, bees also eat fruits, particularly overripe ones. The nectar is a rich source of sugar, but it contains very little protein, which insects need more than carbohydrates.
Another way to feed a bee is to make sugar candy. Simply combine 12 pounds of sugar with a quart of water and stir well. Leave it to simmer for 15 minutes, then stir in 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. When the syrup is cool, the bees can feed on it. However, it is important to note that chocolate is toxic to bees because it goes through a process to make it sweet, which releases an ingredient known as HMF.
Sugar water
The use of sugar water for bees may sound harmless enough, but it can be extremely damaging to the bee population. The sugary solution will not feed the growing larvae and instead, honey bees will flock to the water to feed. The water is then stored as honey. Instead of feeding the sugary solution to bees, you can help them by planting nectar-rich plants near the hive. Leave out bowls of water with pebbles or gravel outside to attract the bees.
Usually, a small stockpot or a two quart (2 l) jar is sufficient for making sugar water. A large stockpot will take five US gals (19 l). To create the syrup, mix 5 tbsp (74 mL) of chlorine bleach with the sugar water. Let the sugar water stand for at least 10 minutes before adding it to the bees’ feeder.
Royal jelly
When a beekeeper wants to give their honey bees a treat, they can feed them royal jelly. It is highly nutritious and rich in protein. A well-managed hive can produce approximately SOOg of royal jelly in a season. Since royal jelly is perishable, producers must store the product in proper cold storage until it is sold or transported to a collection center.
The lipid content of royal jelly is unusual. Eighty to ninety percent of its dry weight is water, and the rest is proteins and sugars. Proteins are the largest component, making up 73.9% of the total weight. The remaining two to three percent is composed of free amino acids and peptides. Royal jelly contains all essential amino acids, including arginine, proline, and lysine.
Jam
There are many different alternatives to feeding honey bees. The most accessible food to bees is sugar. Unfortunately, some sweets aren’t safe for bees. One good alternative is jam. But be careful when buying jam. Some syrups contain high levels of HMF, or 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. If you’re unsure about whether chocolate is safe for bees, read the ingredient list carefully.
One method for feeding bees is by making your own jam. You can use jam or sugar water. It’s important not to leave sugar out all the time or it can become solid and ineffective. Sugar water is also better than dry sugar during dry seasons because the bees don’t have to search for water to consume it. Sugar bricks are another way to feed bees. Sugar bricks are basically just the same as candy and are cheaper because they’re a denser version of dry clumped sugar. You can make them with any blender or food processor.
Candy boards
When you want to feed a bee, you can use candy boards to help the colony grow. These boards sit directly on the upper box of a hive, eliminating the need for entrance blocks. After the candy has been prepared, you can leave it overnight or for several days. Then, you can lower the outer cover and add additional sugar bricks to the board. When the spring weather arrives, bees will move up into the candy board feeder area and begin building comb.
The boards are also easy to use. You can buy wooden blocks that are already cut to fit in the hive and have entrance and exit holes cut into them. These boards are easy to install and will attract a variety of bees. You can easily adjust the recipe for your hive as you go. Be sure to tape well to prevent leaks. However, even with taped boards, the candy can leak. Sugar candy that drips from the top might fall to the bottom of the hive.
