When you’re looking for a simple way to keep your bees happy, you should look at what to feed them. Some of the most popular options include pollen patties, sugar syrup, and nectar. All of these options are naturally occurring and can be found in your garden.
Pollen patties
Pollen patties are a great way to give bees a protein-rich food source on a constant basis. Pollen patties can be placed near the brood nest to give nurse bees direct access to protein. Alternatively, you can place the patties between the frames in your colony to allow nurse bees to feed their young without having to fly a long distance.
Pollen patties should be provided to bee colonies during periods of pollen dearth, which is typically early spring and late February – March. When nectar starts flowing and brood begins to emerge, it is also important to provide pollen patties to give your bees the nutrition they need to forage. Some commercial beekeepers also supplement their pollen patties in the fall. However, hobbyists rarely need to use pollen patties during this period.
Bees use pollen patties to increase brood production in their hives. Once they have a natural source of pollen, they will often ignore pollen supplements. Providing additional pollen to your colony will encourage them to produce more brood and nectar for their queen.
Pollen patties can be prepared with many ingredients, such as sugar, lemon juice, citric acid, honey, and dried egg. These patties are designed to be stiff and thick so that they can be placed over the brood nest. Bees will feed on them throughout the winter or early spring, and the added food will help your colony develop.
Sugar syrup
You should provide your bees with sugar syrup in a container that is easily accessible to them. The container can either be inverted or placed on level ground. Inverted containers are preferred because the honey bees can access the syrup through holes in the lid. Inverted containers are also safer because they prevent robbers from accessing the honey.
To make sugar syrup for bees to eat, mix one part sugar with two parts water, preferably at room temperature. The sugar should dissolve quickly in the water, so be sure to stir it well. Allow the syrup to cool before giving it to bees. The syrup is best if it is flavored with spearmint, as the spearmint will deter mold. Another benefit of spearmint is that it is an excellent dietary supplement for the bees. It also acts as a natural defense against varroa and tracheal mites.
The sugar syrup should be made of beet or cane sugar, and should never be raw. You should use organic sugar if possible, as it will have fewer pesticides added. You can also use sugar in a 1:1 ratio to water. Once the sugar syrup is prepared, you should place the feeder on a flat surface, such as a table top, a box or a wooden frame.
Depending on the time of year, sugar syrup can be made in two different proportions. One proportion is similar to honey, while the other is thicker. A light syrup is one part sugar and one part water, and a heavy syrup is two parts sugar and one part water.
Nectar
Giving bees nectar is an excellent way to help them survive the winter. If you feed them the right kind of nectar, they can store up enough stores for the winter. If you feed them the wrong type of nectar, they may go without. But by giving them a supplement, they can survive over the winter without depriving themselves of necessary nutrients.
A simple way to make nectar for bees is by using agave nectar. A syrup made from agave contains low levels of HMF, and the acidity is just right for bees. The agave plant is believed to have medicinal properties. Unfortunately, processing and refining it destroys these properties.
It’s important to remember that sugar should not be fed to bees during the honey collecting process. During this time, sugar should be kept at a low temperature to prevent the syrup from crystallizing and making bees sick. You should always leave the syrup to cool to room temperature before giving it to the bees. You can also fortify the syrup with pollen to provide the bees with proteins.
Nectar is a vital source of food for honeybees. It helps them survive the winter months by nourishing the colony. A simple, easy-to-reach fruit can attract a swarm of bees.
