Some beekeepers choose to feed a 2:1 sugar syrup solution (sugar to water ratio) when their colony lacks honey stores, in order to avoid disrupting their cluster. It should be done sparingly and with care in order to prevent any disruptions in clustering patterns.
One effective strategy for doing this is using an entrance feeder – typically, this consists of filling a small mason jar with holes punched through its lid with honey syrup, and placing it near the entrance of your hive.
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Pollen Patties
Pollen patties provide an effective supplementary source of pollen during periods of reduced natural pollen availability. They are especially valuable during spring and fall buildup when colonies must strengthen themselves to prepare for nectar and honey flows.
Adult bees do not eat pollen themselves, but instead bring it back to the hive where house bees use lactic acid fermentation to transform dry pollen into bee bread containing protein and other vital nutrients for their larvae.
For an easy pollen patty recipe, combine equal parts sugar syrup and water until the consistency of wet peanut butter has been reached. Next, stir in pollen or Honey B Healthy until all the ingredients have been evenly dispersed. This is just a general guideline when creating pollen patties; every beekeeper may employ different methods. Your aim should be a malleable mixture that can be dropped onto wax paper before being flattened out so bees can easily pick it up and transport it off their hives!
Sugar Water
A 1:1 sugar to water ratio used when feeding bees will have a direct impact on how they store their nectar stores; such a syrup will encourage spring brood rearing as its composition closely resembles natural nectars.
A 2:1 syrup provides bees with food storage opportunities during winter as it is closer to honey in nature, meaning brood rearing will not increase as quickly since they know they will have access to this stored syrup in later months.
Some beekeepers feed their colonies a small amount of dry white table sugar throughout the season, enabling them to source their own water either externally or from condensation inside their hive super. This method works well for medium to strong colonies. To prepare sugar syrup: heat water until sugar has fully dissolved then remove from heat until cool enough to store in an airtight jar or container.
Honey
Honey bees require carbohydrates (in the form of nectar or honey), amino acids, lipids, vitamins and minerals in their diet; in addition to water.
Bees cannot forage in conditions when temperatures are too low or the ground is covered in snow; during these times even strong colonies can struggle and may need extra feedings until conditions improve.
Sugar syrup (a mixture of white granulated sugar and water) is a convenient and cost-effective way to provide bee food supplements. It’s easier than nectar collection, and quickly utilized by bees as energy for colony needs. Syrup can usually be prepared using either 1:1 or 2:1 proportions according to need; when making white sugar will work best; brown or molasses sugar could ferment and harm bees’ digestive systems; after cooling to room temperature before feeding to maximize uptake by bees’ intestinales.
Bee Food
Hives may store sugar syrup during winter to provide energy for bees when flowers are no longer blooming and pollen and nectar sources are no longer accessible to them. This provides energy when nectar sources such as flowers are no longer accessible for collection by bees.
It is time to feed a hive when its stores of food have run low; especially if bees appear tired and not flying.
Most beekeepers prefer white granulated sugar as their feeding solution as this mimics plant nectar more closely than any other form of sugar such as turbinado or demerara which contain too much molasses that is harmful for bees.
To create the sugar syrup, mix equal parts of granulated sugar and water by volume (or weight), using very warm water so the sugar dissipates more rapidly. Place this mixture into a plastic bag that has holes punched in it so bees can access and consume the syrup easily.
