With crazy weather, serious dearth and splits. Honey is nill for me this year. If not for frames of honey from a dead out last year I would of had to start feeding a month ago. Did inspections yesterday and to day and found extremely limited honey stores. I will need to begin feeding soon. My question is a gal of 2x1 syrup should yield how much finished bee feed in the comb? My thoughts are appx. 11 lbs If that is correct it would mean 4-5 gal of syrup for winter stores on top of what I'll need to feed to get through this dearth is that about right? thank's, Brad
Quote from: RangerBrad on July 09, 2011, 12:06:45 AM... My question is a gal of 2x1 syrup should yield how much finished
bee feed in the comb?...
http://www.beekeeping.org/goodies/conversions_bee.htm (http://www.beekeeping.org/goodies/conversions_bee.htm)
Google beekeeping.org/conversions_bee.htm and a program with conversions should jump up to answer your questions about converting almost anything about beekeeping. Good luck.
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However, it is July now.
Quote from: Finski on July 09, 2011, 07:42:44 PM
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However, it is July now.
In the American South, we have a dearth in July and August. There is very little nectar for about 6 weeks and then only a small amount of nectar in the Fall. If you don't have honey stores now, you have to feed. I have just started feeding my strong hives so they will store the syrup and will not be robbed. Later in the year, I will move those frames of capped syrup to the weak hives so they can build up brood for winter.
I take all I can now. By mid July all supers are off. Bees are on their own until goldenrod in the fall. Then I also feed them if they are light. That way they put up enough to make it through the winter. Feed them now and I find that they just burn through all what you feed them before fall.
Quote from: AllenF on July 10, 2011, 09:24:35 AM
I take all I can now. By mid July all supers are off. Bees are on their own until goldenrod in the fall. Then I also feed them if they are light. That way they put up enough to make it through the winter. Feed them now and I find that they just burn through all what you feed them before fall.
Yes, I remove all the honey-only frames and just leave the honey in the tops of the brood frames. But some of my weak hives won't make it till goldenrod without some extra food. These are new splits that have not built any reserves.
As far as established hives, I totally agree. I've even thought about moving a strong hive and leaving the foragers behind in a hive with only a frame of eggs and some sugar syrup, to see if they would make a queen and draw comb. And if not... it's not a big loss.
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Sor ry for your feeding.
I have a hive on a balance. Hive brings honey 6 kg daily in these days.
In 10 days 60 kg.
Thanks fellas, These are all splits except 1 cut out I did this year. Came out of winter with 1 hive and another dead out hive and have been doing splits and adding honey from the dead out hive. Brad