I've been feeding my two hives the past week. They've gone through 50lbs of sugar mixed 2-1 in about 4 days.
I checked both hives today and the latest batch of syrup is hardened. Nothing left in the (top) feeders but crystalized sugar - not liquid syrup.
I took the feeders off and set them next to the hives and put the inner covers back on both hives.
Should I just leave the sugar-in-the-feeders next to the hives until they either take it all or ??? Not sure how to proceed. FWIW, it went down into the 30s last night...
Thanks!
from my experience, if it's in the thirties at night then it's getting cold enough that the bees won't be taking much more syrup. although if they're flying during the day you could mix the remaining crstylized sugar with warm water, shake it up real good, and see what the bees do. good luck.
I would not think a mixture of 2-1 sugar water syrup would crystilize in 4 days !
I use HOT water to dissolve my sugar, add HBH, let mixture cool place in 1/2 gal. plastic milk cartons until needed as long as 2-3 weeks, no crystilization .
Every body do their own thing.
Bee-Bop
Quote from: Gregs on September 20, 2009, 09:59:04 AM
They've gone through 50lbs of sugar mixed 2-1 in about 4 days.
How can you feed that much in 4 day to two hives???
Quote from: MacfromNS on September 20, 2009, 10:49:50 AM
Quote from: Gregs on September 20, 2009, 09:59:04 AM
They've gone through 50lbs of sugar mixed 2-1 in about 4 days.
How can you feed that much in 4 day to two hives???
Whoa there Nellie! "About" four days in a leftist liberal viewpoint in regards to budget numbers, could mean anywhere from just at 4 to about 136 days. Well within the margin of error, and not unrealistic for a casual comment..... :-D
I've had strong hive suck down a couple gallons a day. So figuring out 2 hives for a total day workload and a minimum of 8 days, then this is not unrealistic.
Quote from: MacfromNS on September 20, 2009, 10:49:50 AM
Quote from: Gregs on September 20, 2009, 09:59:04 AM
They've gone through 50lbs of sugar mixed 2-1 in about 4 days.
How can you feed that much in 4 day to two hives???
When I feed my bees, the normal speed is 15 kg / 30 lbs sugar in 2 days per hive. Then one box hive is full.
I keep a pause and try if it takes more then after one week.
When you put newspaper sheet over the feeding box, cold night do not harm they feeding.
My my my that seems like a lot of sugar. I don't think that mine every took more then one gal in 4 or 5 days for two hives open feeding.