Last week when the temps were in the lower 60s, I put 2:1 syrup on my hives using inverted gallon jars. I only had enough syrup to fill these jars up to 50% full (or 50% empty depending upon your disposition. :-D) so I had to invert the jars over a pan and let the syrup drip out to build up vacuum before placing them on the hives. Peeking under the tops yesterday, I noticed that about 2/3s or so of the syrup had been consumed.
PROBLEM: One hive with a solid bottom board had some syrup that had run out of the hive and puddled on one side of the SBB. I was reluctant to open the hive to see what the deal was since I didn't know what could be done at this point.
Suggestions?
Don't worry about it. The bees will clean it up.
That is exactly why I have a variety of jar sizes to use. I always fill the jars/cans completely - it just might be a couple quart jars instead of a gallon one.
I agree about not worrying about the incident though. It probably didn't do much if any damage, but if it did there isn't anything you can do but learn from it.
I'm just worried about what kind of damage I may have done to the cluster/brood and whether the bees might get stuck to the bottom board when they break cluster and try to take flight. It's pretty sticky and solid!
Syrup leaking in cold weather areas have killed many hives over the years. If your feeding in January and February, the bees probably are emergency feeding (using what they consume) and are not processing it and capping. The best they can do is stick it in open cells. And this may lead to a greater moisture problem in the hive. You may get away with it in warmer climates, but in colder areas, I would consider a solid type feed for bees that are emergency feeding.
The first relatively warm day I'll open it up and see if there is any damage. Today the temps are in the middle 30s with 40-50 mph winds! If they are not dead, I'll go back with dry sugar or a quart jar over the inner cover hole.
Dang! I had another hive leak with the 2:1 syrup! Seems like the gallon jars have held a vacuum for several days/weeks and then release the syrup all at once! I pulled the jars off of four hives yesterday and didn't notice anything strange about the lid seal. The lids were still tight. No cracks in the glass jar either.
Temps have struggled to get over 40s for the past several days. This weekend the temps are forecasted to be lower 60s. I'll do a good inspection of all hive this weekend because I want to move them a bit before the warmer temps get here and they start to build up. I may even rotate the boxes.
I have been told that temp changes can cause this problem.
if it's warm enough for them to fly, use a feeder away from the hives. poultry feeders with some rocks in the dish work really well. DON'T use them in the fall or you'll have all the yellowjackets, etc. in it.
the temp fluctuates between day and night and even in a glass jar, the pressure will change and force the syrup out. in summer, some dripping syrup is no big deal. at this time of the year, you want to avoid it.
Quote from: BjornBee on February 10, 2010, 08:46:09 AM
Syrup leaking in cold weather areas have killed many hives over the years.
If you keep doing it, I'll keep saying it....... :-D
I know that, Bjorn! :-D
You've heard the phrase never wear white after Labor Day? Well, going forward, it's nothing wet in the hive after Thanksgiving in my area! Only dry sugar.
Inspected the Syrup Leak hives yesterday and found both to be in good shape. As a matter of fact, they looked like they enjoyed it. Numbers and activity are up!