When I installed my bees I added a top feeder filled with three gallon of medicated syrup! In 10 days the bees drank about 2 gallons leaving a gallon behind. Now the sugar water is fermenting and mold is all over it... You can even smell it from outside the hive. Thus, today I will remove the top feeder and wash it well... Then use dry sugar instead and mega bee pollen patties in it. What I learn is that for a starting colony dry sugar is easier and less messy to work with. Any other suggestions?
Try putting a teaspoon of vinegar / gallon in the sugar water, helps reduce fermentation some and I have heard it inverts the sugar.
David
QuoteWhat I learn is that for a starting colony dry sugar is easier and less messy to work with.
I'd be surprised if they take it. I think dry sugar (or a fondant) is more suited for winter emergency feeding. I wouldn't be surprised to find that they will either ignore it or trash it. I would stick to the syrup if you must feed at all.
Give them less syrup and check it more often.
You can also pick up some Honey B Healthy and mix it in according to the instructions (1 tsp/gal, I think). That does a great job of preserving the syrup, and is made of all natural essential oils that the bees enjoy.