Hello All!
I was wondering what your thoughts are on Honey Be Healthy. I have a friend who feeds it and believes it is necessary. But I was wondering . .
1. What are the pros and cons of feeding this? What is it supposed to do?
2. Can it flavor honey? (Their honey is bright yellow and tastes very lemony to me. I didn't ask if she was still feeding them, cuz I just can't believe anyone would do that during flow, but the honey flavor made me wonder). They live about 4 miles away, but their honey tastes and looks very different from ours.
I know that it is not correct to feed now, just curious about the differing honey. But was also wondering what the opinions were about this supplement.
Thanks for any thoughts!
ziffa
With 28 views and no responses, Ill wade in with my .02 :-D
Honey-B-Healthy (essential oils) is probably on the Top 5 of things that Beeks debate along with small cell, screen bottom boards, and upper entrances. Some people swear by using HBH others thinks that its just another snake oil gimmic. I made up a batch of my own earlier this year, and couldnt tell any difference as far as hive performance. As strong as a smell as that stuff had, I couldnt imagine how it couldnt affect the taste or look of their stores, in particular if your friends are still feeding it right now. I cant be a judge as to how thyme oil effects are on mite control-I only used it for one feeding and it was earlier in the year when mites counts are naturally lower anyways. Some beeks have posted that their bees have taken it 'like crack to a crackhead'. Mine didnt seem to care for it.
Do a search on here for HBH or feeding essential oils, and you will find several respones/debates on using the stuff. As for me, I wasnt really sold on it one way or the other, but I doubt I will do it again.
I'm in the "snake oil" crowd.
Scott
Pros: These are all natural chemicals that the bees pick up naturally from thyme, mint, etc.
Con: $$$
Kind of like taking multivitamins. If you have a good balanced diet probably not needed. Doesn't hurt you other than the expense.
I have a jug of it here. Have used it when I can think to. I like the smell. I don't think the bees care one way or the other, they just want the syrup.
Thanks all! You all pretty much confirmed what I was thinking.
And VK9 - ah! Didn't realize it was one of THOSE can of worms :) I think your summary was very concise. I'll do a search for more.
Thanks for the replies!
love,
ziffa
Haven't used it myself, and I'm in the camp that doesn't buy the story about essential oils. To me it's just another "natural" chemical in unnatural strength.
But I can't think of anything the foragers could pick up that would make honey taste lemony... You know that feeding while the supers are on is bad....but do they?
It sets off robbing and kills off the beneficial microbes.
ACV works just as well and doesn't set of robbing.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on June 04, 2011, 02:27:01 AM
ACV works just as well and doesn't set of robbing.
Just curious, is ACV Apple Cider Vinegar? How do you use ACV for beekeeping? I apologize in advance if I hijacked this post.
Thanks
Shane
Quote from: Michael Bush on June 04, 2011, 01:35:14 AM
It sets off robbing and kills off the beneficial microbes.
I agree.
I do not use the stuff. It's like ringing the dinner bell for all to come and rob. Plus, there is really no need for it. But the stuff has been marketed well, and with beekeepers ever increasing desire to solve one problem or make beekeeping easier, it sells well.
I tried some and found out SHB are attracked to it very much. The bees didn't really care for it though.
this sort of reminds me of how desperate organic rose growers are for snake oil cures against blackspot. I am all organics and I still go for all the snake oil in the world, haha.
But in a way, I'm scratching my head, because my garden is loaded with thyme EVERYWHERE, all versions of thyme and never have I seen honeybees go for thyme although they do really like oregano. Lavender they are just so-so about.....So I am thinking they must be literally forcefeeding the honeybees with that thyme? But lots of "bad" insects don't like the smell of oregano (which to me would be a great substitute/better substitute than thyme).....So why hasn't anyone tried oregano as the "essential oil" for honeybees since honeybees truly like the oregano whereas other insects are repelled?? If bees can go wacky over oregano, then wouldn't this herb be a great experiment to go for???? I believe peppermint and oregano can repel mites as well. There are tons of snake oil for us organics gardeners, lol! We try to use peppermint and oregano to repel ants as well, for example.
Quote from: SerenaSYH on June 05, 2011, 06:46:40 PM
this sort of reminds me of how desperate organic rose growers are for snake oil cures against blackspot. I am all organics and I still go for all the snake oil in the world, haha.
Dont get me wrong, Im all about using some treatments that are not considered to be as the norm providing that they work. I just didnt see my bees go completely wonky over the mixture like other members here have stated their did. Who knows, maybe my bees noses were stopped up or something. Out of the syrup that was comsumed, more of the plain 1:1 was taken than the syrup with a HBH type additive. (Two open feeders sitting side by side)
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To me it seems that these HBH Busters have full understanding for money but not for beekeeping.
http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/honeyBhlth.htm. (http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/honeyBhlth.htm.)
recommendations are awfull.
Thanks for the link
hmmm, I looked closer at the link for curiosity, but then thought hey, if these proponents went through the trouble of contacting EPA and if you look real careful, the link comes from an edu link which is usually educational so I found out indeed this is a Western Virginia University link...I do believe one of the top bee scientists is also from Virginia. I once contacted someone in that region when I was checking on the varroa issue and pesticides and how they affected the honeybees.
Finski, usually University findings have strong weight and validity... Granted you can have infighting amongst various scientists. Believe me, my Dad is a biochemist and yeahhhh, politics can get in the way... But I wouldn't knock the link quite yet! I think we'll have to keep digging around for more test/laboratory findings.
It's strange but I do think beekeepers should do a side by side control test and help get involved with on-the-field findings...Research on CCD can really take off when all beekeepers get involved and volunteer their hives for studies?? but yikes I got off-topic and need to go to the CCD thread. Sorry folks! :oops:
Quote from: tsmullins on June 04, 2011, 02:42:46 AM
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on June 04, 2011, 02:27:01 AM
ACV works just as well and doesn't set of robbing.
Just curious, is ACV Apple Cider Vinegar? How do you use ACV for beekeeping? I apologize in advance if I hijacked this post.
Thanks
Shane
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) at 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of syrup changes the Ph of the syrup to a closer proximation of natural nectars. It is the only treatment I use, ACV when feeding simple syrup. Since I use ACV sparingly and feed only when absolutely necessary I have few problems with my bees of the kind reported by those who use checmical treatments extensively.
IMO, all the other treatments are what's wrong with beekeeping today. Feed healthy anything medications when they're not ill will, in and of itself, make them sick over time.
I have heard that it prevents nosema in the bees when u feed in spring and fall but who knows everyone has their opinion and we all know that everyones opinion is the right one Chris
Quote from: SerenaSYH on June 07, 2011, 01:37:57 AM
hmmm, I looked closer at the link for curiosity, but then thought hey, if these proponents went through the trouble of contacting EPA and if you look real careful, the link comes from an edu link which is usually educational so I found out indeed this is a Western Virginia University link...
Finski, usually University findings have strong weight and validity... Granted you can have infighting amongst various scientists. Believe me, my Dad is a biochemist and yeahhhh, politics can get in the way...
you know, my university education is very near biochemist. My special line was plant physiology. I have studied genetics and zoology too. Those are enough to understand beekeeping.
In our country we do not use to advertise some industrial product by university. University may do tests but it do not sell products.
We do not have here honeybee healthy but our bees do well.
We do not use in summer essential oils to make bees healthier than they are.
We do not feed sugar to them in summer.
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Are the university researchs all valid
No, they are not. I have seen many excamples.
If we speak about smart biochemists, they use to work in industry and in medicin companies.
In universities there is continuous fighting for project budjeting. When you get a job to research, it is not nice to bite the feeders hand. Half truth will be told.
University guys tend to make hype notions. CCD has inspired many talented person to give information which is taken from sleaves.
In our north university guys made just research that bumbblebees are vanishing. It was one evaluation and no trend has been proved. From university to Pasific Ocean there is a huge Siberian taiga. What a heck is vanishing there bumbble bees!
I understand that wise guys try to ride with CCD HORSE and try to get money to their projects. But it is easy to see.
Newspaper men make much hype from "bees are vanishing"and "mankind is dieing". New news go around the globe and same "summer stories" are told again and again.
It is easy to see that if the writer does not understand insect pollination, wind pollination and self pollination, the writer cannot be a university guy. It is a newspaper man who write under university name.
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QuoteResearch on CCD can really take off when all beekeepers get involved and volunteer their hives for studies??
beekeepers are involved. what beekeepers are finding on things like CCD, mite, etc. does not always fit the political narrative. there is a long history of CCD like occurrences, but they are rarely mentioned because a history would not fit the political narrative.
something is always dying and man is always killing it. if you can prove that the same thing happened before man had the tools/chemicals to kill it, please don't mention that. it messes things up.
HBH is spearmint oil, Lemongrass oil and lecithin as an emulsifier. you can mix your own for a fraction of the cost if you want to feed essential oils. if you want to have the convenience of the mix, buy it. if you don't think essential oils are good for your bees, don't use it.
i don't see the benefit because i have never had a hive with problems feeding. the benefit of essential oils in feed is questionable and as some have posted, there is some indication that it may actually be harmful.
like everything else you do, it's cost/benefit and personal preference.