beekeepers in areas with late summer dearths and limited forage can use pollen patties – carbohydrate/protein mixtures made up of sugar, pollen substitute and essential oils – as a food source to combat Varroa mites and keep bees alive and active.
These hive patties can be placed directly onto the inner cover of a hive for easy installation and provide essential nutrition when bee stores are low.
Contents
They’re easy to make
Sugar bricks or candy boards are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways for beekeepers to feed their bees during winter, keeping the hive alive through harsh winter conditions.
To create a sugar brick, mix water and sugar until they form a sandy consistency. Experimentation may be required in order to find an appropriate ratio; moisture should remain just moist enough so as not to drip once installed into your hive.
Pollen patties or fondant are popular winter bee food options. Grease patties contain shortening or other grease and white table sugar, often supplemented with essential oils to combat varroa mites. Fondant, similar to hard candy but without being heated as long, helps stimulate brood production while providing essential protein during dearth periods; fondant is particularly recommended for beekeepers with small colonies or limited budgets.
They’re easy to store
Winter sugar patties should be stored in a cool pantry or other dark place until needed. Once placed in the hive during the winter, they can feed the colony until natural spring pollen begins flowing in, providing nutrition until natural spring pollen starts flowing into their respective colonies. They contain pollen substitute, sugar and minerals with an addition of Honey-B Healthy as a bee feeding stimulant.
Other winter supplemental feeds for bees include grease patties, pollen patties, and bee fondant. A grease patty is composed of shortening or oil combined with white table sugar for optimal moisture levels and often contains essential oils to combat tracheal mites.
Pollen patties are composed of pollen substitute, sugar, vitamins, lemon juice or citric acid and dry egg, yeast or oil and may be fed to increase brood production or as supplemental food during periods of dearth. A pollen patty that remains intact may attract Small Hive Beetles (SHBs). For an alternative approach, candy boards provide shallow supers with bottoms filled with soft ball stage sugar syrup cooked on top and then poured directly into feeders for use by bees.
They’re easy to transport
As a quick and convenient way to feed your bees during winter, sugar patties provide an easy solution. Placed inside their hive cluster, these patties provide carbohydrates to help your bees weather the cold weather, as well as treating tracheal mites as their greasy substance smothers their infestation.
Mann Lake Ltd offers bulk-packed Pro Winter Patties or you can create homemade candy boards by mixing granulated sugar with pollen substitute and spreading the mix on wax paper before folding over. This form of feeding is extremely convenient as it can easily be transported between colonies.
Winter sugar patties require using a low protein recipe in order to encourage brood production without depleting their food stores further. When offering winter sugar patties as food supplies decline, offer them as they might come in handy.
They’re easy to install
Addition of extra sugar during winter allows the colony to build itself up for spring without needing to consume the expensive 1:1 syrup they produce; additionally, this prevents them from getting chilled while providing them with the extra calories necessary for survival during the harsh climate of winter.
To install a fondant patty, allow it to thaw before placing it atop your beehive. For added stability and to prevent your fondant patty from shifting around too much during installation, cover it with thin sheet of newspaper – use circular shapes like paper plates for efficiency!
Beekeepers frequently rely on sugar boards or candy cakes as emergency feeds during winter when honey stores run low. These food sources consist largely of sugar-water and provide enough energy for survival without stimulating brood production. Their protein content stands at 2.5 percent or lower.
