So, whenever someone talks about feeding and bees stashing the syrup in cells, everyone says you can't harvest that, it's not honey. I agree it isn't honey but i may have had some feeder robbing going on and may have some mixed in with honey (in the strong hive next to the captured swarm I was feeding for a little while). Is it simply a moral issue or will it not keep the same? I don't sell my honey but wouldn't want to harvest if it's going to be an issue in storage.
If a little is mixed in and it's for your own use it's okay. It will keep okay. I just wouldn't want to sell converted syrup as converted nectar(honey).
What type feeder are you using? :) d2
It was a top feeder with a vented inner cover above it. Looked like there was some flying in the top going on. Been a while but some of it may be in a super on the other hive.
If using the top feeder put it directly over the brood box. Be sure not to place the inner cover between the feeder and brood box. Be sure the top lid is sealed tight to keep robbers out or it could start a frenzy.It also results in a lot of bees drowning in the topside.
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It is allways a problem how to get rid of extra winter food before new yield starts to come in.
There is a regulation, how many percent sucrose is allowed be in honey.
I agree with buzzbee. My first year I made the mistake of feeding, feeding, feeding after the flow to get more honey and then realized that all I was getting was converted sugar water. While the bees do add some enzymes, etc. to the stores and it does taste like a very light honey, morally I would never sell or pass it off to others as pure honey.
My husband and I did end up eating up what I collected that season but I am now in a place where I don't like to feed AT ALL unless I absolutely have to in the fall/dearth periods. I think it is much more important to leave real nectar-based honey on the hive for the girls to overwinter with than for me to harvest more for me and then feed them sugar water to get through the winter. The girls stay healthier eating nectar-based honey and i think, in the long run, will produce more anyway.
Linda D.
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Syrup honey is easy to identyfy. It is very sweet but it has no flower aroma.
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