Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: DRONEMAN on October 31, 2010, 12:44:25 PM

Title: FEEDING BEES
Post by: DRONEMAN on October 31, 2010, 12:44:25 PM
Just wondering how log can I feed my bees sugar syurp im top feeding with jars 2 to 1 its in the fiftys in the day and thirtys at nite
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Joelel on October 31, 2010, 02:43:01 PM
Quote from: DRONEMAN on October 31, 2010, 12:44:25 PM
Just wondering how log can I feed my bees sugar syurp im top feeding with jars 2 to 1 its in the fiftys in the day and thirtys at nite
As long as you want.
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: ronwhite3030 on October 31, 2010, 04:35:04 PM
you can feed as long as you want potentially but if u are jar feeding on top of the hive be careful because what happens is that the syrup can drip down on the bees and freeze them. Its best to go with a division board feeder becasuse they have great access to it, you dont have to worry about it dripping on the bees only a few drowning and reduced robbing.

just my two cents.
-Ron
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Finski on October 31, 2010, 05:25:07 PM
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Good advice is to feed so long as they take it.
Bees cap the cells when they are full.

It is good to look inside too how it looks like there. It is better than ask in internet.
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: DRONEMAN on October 31, 2010, 09:31:55 PM
Thanks for answering my feeding bees question as for checking on the internet about feeding I believe that is what this blog is for DAH
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Finski on November 01, 2010, 01:22:14 AM
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Many does not understand that bees cap only filled cells. If they are not capped, food takes moisture from air and start fermenting.

So feed allways so much that bees cap the food.

It depends how much they allready had honey and pollen and brood in the hive.
I use on average 20 kg sugar per hive and it is enough from September to May.
Our willows start blooming at the beginning of May. Insulated brood boxes are necessary to avoid starvations out.
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: tecumseh on November 01, 2010, 09:32:25 AM
at 30 degrees and by feeding in glass (unprotected I am assuming) you do stand the risk of breaking the container.  if the jar is outside the hive the risk is small.. inside the hive (within an empty shell)  breaking glass and cold syrup may be lethal.
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: VolunteerK9 on November 01, 2010, 10:59:39 AM


I believe what Finski is referring to is for you to check yourself to see how much feed stores that your hive has and in doing so is better than asking how much you can feed them.

Quote from: DRONEMAN on October 31, 2010, 09:31:55 PM
Thanks for answering my feeding bees question as for checking on the internet about feeding I believe that is what this blog is for DAH

Even though that 'Dah' wasn't even directed towards me, its kind of the wrong thing to say when you are asking for help on a public forum.
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Kathyp on November 01, 2010, 02:01:00 PM
it also would be helpful if you put your location in your profile.  sometimes answers depend on where you are.  for instance, if i keep feeding this late, i end up with a lot of moisture inside the hive that i don't want.  i live in a very wet climate.  i try to have my feeding done earlier.  if you live in a dryer area you can probably keep at it even if the weather is colder.

and K9 has a point.  you'll get a lot of answers when you ask a question.  we won't all agree, and you won't agree with all we say.  still, it's info for you to use as you see fit.  if you are rude, you will get no answers.  i'm sure you didn't mean your response to be seen as rude  :-)

Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: tandemrx on November 01, 2010, 03:41:16 PM
I think he wasn't sure what Finski said, as it could have been taken that he shouldn't have asked the question ("it is better than ask in internet", I didn't understand that either).

One consideration for the feeder is whether or not you will have any warm days coming up to remove it.

Not sure what your set up is, but you may not want to have to open your hive and do a bunch of manipulations to remove the feeder if, say in a couple weeks, the temperatures never gets above 45.

I am going to take my last feeder off tomorrow as it is probably the last day in the 50s I will see for a while.   Snow in the forecast for Thursday  :'(
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: DRONEMAN on November 03, 2010, 12:57:56 AM
Thanks tandemrx for pointing that out (it is better than asking internet) sounded odd to me for just asking a simple question anyways my bee are in southern mi. was not sure, (if the bees stop feeding would the syrup drip down on them at temps around 50s in day and below 32 at nite
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Bee-Bop on November 03, 2010, 07:58:46 PM
I am sure you have noticed Finski is from SWEDEN, some times his English  is not the best, However He is a wealth of great information especially, for those in the North.

Bee-Bop
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Kathyp on November 03, 2010, 09:42:38 PM
actually, he's from Finland   :-D  i did belong to the Swedish Empire at one point, so you are not so far off.
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Bee-Bop on November 03, 2010, 09:48:27 PM
Gee, and I'm one who says " Look and see were the Questioner is from before you answer "   :oops:

I didn't say " I was the sharpest tack in the box "   :'(

Bee-Bop
Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Scadsobees on November 04, 2010, 10:20:56 AM
Quote from: DRONEMAN on November 03, 2010, 12:57:56 AM
Thanks tandemrx for pointing that out (it is better than asking internet) sounded odd to me for just asking a simple question anyways my bee are in southern mi. was not sure, (if the bees stop feeding would the syrup drip down on them at temps around 50s in day and below 32 at nite

I think he meant to point out that the issue has been discussed a lot in the past and there is a wealth of knowledge in searching the forum, nothing negative intended.  Most topics on here have been discussed at length and while we enjoy answering questions and being know-it-alls (well, I do at least  :-D ) you can often find the answers that you are looking for quicker.

Basically you can feed until they stop taking it.  If you are feeding in Aug/Sept when it is warmer, you can feed 1:1 (they take it quicker and still have time to cure/dry it) and as it gets later move to 2:1 which doesn't need as much drying.  But I find that they don't take all that much later anyway and the drier temps will crystallize the 2:1 faster, so I like to feed earlier.

If you are worried about dripping syrup, just make sure that you have a method that won't drip (baggy feeders were bad for me) , and jar feeders if it gets too cold will leak and make sure that if it does drip it isn't right in the middle and right over the cluster.

Rick


Title: Re: FEEDING BEES
Post by: Kathyp on November 04, 2010, 11:13:45 AM
well heck, i though he was saying that you need to know what's inside your hive.  what you see in there will answer most questions   :-D