Sugar Water Feeding

[leechmann]

I know we have cover this topic several times, just want to make sure I get it right. The 2 to 1 ratio is 2 parts sugar to one part water, correct? And the parts are measured by volume, is that correct?

Thank You

[specialkayme]

You are correct.

I know someone who measures 2:1 by weight, and not by volume. He claims it matters. I, however, have better things to do with my time than weigh water, weigh sugar, and try to get it right. I fill a bucket up between 1/2 and 2/3 full of sugar (eye ball it) and fill the rest with water.

The ladies don't care if it's a 2:1 ratio, a 1.75:1 ratio, or a 2.25:1 ratio. They take it all the same.

[Thermwood]

It is simple, for 1:1 just dump a 25 pound bag of sugar in a 5 gallon bucket, add 3 gallons of water, makes 5 gallons.
for 2:1 use 1.5 gallons of water to a 25 pound bag of sugar
water is 8.34 pounds per gallon X 3 is 25 pounds

[annette]

Or if you only have a few hives:

10 lbs of sugar to 5 pints of water

[specialkayme]

It is simple, for 1:1 just dump a 25 pound bag of sugar in a 5 gallon bucket, add 3 gallons of water, makes 5 gallons.
for 2:1 use 1.5 gallons of water to a 25 pound bag of sugar
water is 8.34 pounds per gallon X 3 is 25 pounds

We must have different definitions of simple. I'm not saying it's hard, but simple to me is pouring sugar into a bucket, then pouring warm water till it's full.

Simple isn't taking a 5 gallon bucket, filling it with 3 gallons of water and 25 lbs of sugar (reminds me of Die Hard with a Vengeance, the 3 & 5 gallon jug thing). To do that, I need a five gallon bucket, and a three gallon bucket. My way, I need whatever jar/bucket/tub I'm going to fill up. That's it. No additional materials, no math, no muss, no fuss. But what if I don't want five gallons? What if I want four? or three? or two? or 20? What if I want to make it 1:1 not 2:1? what if I want to make it 3:1, or 5:1? You going to do the math every time (I realize it isn't that big of a deal, just making a point)? I'll just pour sugar into a bucket and go from there.

But whatever, you take your way, I'll take mine. KISS is my motto, and it works way more often than it fails.

But it is interesting to hear that you do it by weight, not by volume.

[Grandpa Jim]

Most times if I am making a small amount for my HO hive, I will fill a jar, say, 3/4 full of sugar.  Than add hot water until the mixed water and sugar comes to the same 3/4 mark.   This is very close to 2:1.  If I want it thinner, I just add more water.

[rdy-b]

It is simple, for 1:1 just dump a 25 pound bag of sugar in a 5 gallon bucket, add 3 gallons of water, makes 5 gallons.
for 2:1 use 1.5 gallons of water to a 25 pound bag of sugar
water is 8.34 pounds per gallon X 3 is 25 pounds

We must have different definitions of simple. I'm not saying it's hard, but simple to me is pouring sugar into a bucket, then pouring warm water till it's full.

Simple isn't taking a 5 gallon bucket, filling it with 3 gallons of water and 25 lbs of sugar (reminds me of Die Hard with a Vengeance, the 3 & 5 gallon jug thing). To do that, I need a five gallon bucket, and a three gallon bucket. My way, I need whatever jar/bucket/tub I'm going to fill up. That's it. No additional materials, no math, no muss, no fuss. But what if I don't want five gallons? What if I want four? or three? or two? or 20? What if I want to make it 1:1 not 2:1? what if I want to make it 3:1, or 5:1? You going to do the math every time (I realize it isn't that big of a deal, just making a point)? I'll just pour sugar into a bucket and go from there.

But whatever, you take your way, I'll take mine. KISS is my motto, and it works way more often than it fails.

But it is interesting to hear that you do it by weight, not by volume.

mixing water into sugar is like cookie dough-just is a lot easyer for complete mixing -to add sugar to water -even if its only half the water-and you are right about keeping it simple it doent have to be exact-the bees dont mind as long as it is completly mixed-RDY-B

[MagicValley]

When is it appropriate to switch from 1:1 to 2:1? 

Here in Idaho, it is dipping into the low 40s at night, and its in the 70s in the daytime.

We had our first night where it got down to 32F on September 6th.

[VolunteerK9]

When is it appropriate to switch from 1:1 to 2:1? 

Here in Idaho, it is dipping into the low 40s at night, and its in the 70s in the daytime.

We had our first night where it got down to 32F on September 6th.

Wow. Our temperature today is scheduled to hit 94. We are going to go full blown summer into full blown winter without a Fall break in between I think.

[AllenF]

We were 96 yesterday.

[specialkayme]

Wow. Our temperature today is scheduled to hit 94. We are going to go full blown summer into full blown winter without a Fall break in between I think.

And that's what scares me.

[bugleman]

When is it appropriate to switch from 1:1 to 2:1?  

Here in Idaho, it is dipping into the low 40s at night, and its in the 70s in the daytime.

We had our first night where it got down to 32F on September 6th.

Hey MagicValley!

I am mixing sugar syrup as I type.

Winter is closing in fast.  I feed 1:1 as long as I need brood and wax as 2:1 will close out the broodnest.  But now it is panic time if your hives are light.  Slam the 2:1 to them and get them sitting on nectar in the lower box while you still can.  

Here is a tip, I use frame feeders and once the daytime temps don't rise above 60 degrees they can't take the feed as it is too cold, it chills them.  A top feeder can be warmed by the sun directly and the cluster can move in on the feeder and take it down during the heat of the day.

[L Daxon]

Annette,

Thanks for giving a recipe using 10lbs of sugar.  That is the way as a hobbyist I buy it at Wal-Mart and most of the recipes on here are for 25 lbs. or by the pail. 

So according to your recipe for 2:1 (10 lbs to 5 pints), that would be the same a 1 lb of sugar to each cup of water.

How much water would you add to 10 lbs of sugar to get 1:1.  (The answer is probably obvious but my brains is slow today.)

[annette]

For 1:1 start with 10 pints of boiling water and add 10 lbs of sugar

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#weightorvolume

[MagicValley]

Old British rubric: "A pint's a pound, the world around."

A pint of sugar weighs one pound.

[L Daxon]

Thanks.  10 pints to 10 lbs sugar for 1:1.  That's what I was thinking but it seemed to obvious to me.

I'd heard "a pint's a pound the world around" but didn't know what it meant.  Learn something new every day hour.

And thanks Michael.  I always find your site so helpful.  Should just always go there before I ask questions on here!

[oldenglish]

I am going to have to check the scales on that one, it has always been my understanding that a pint of water weighs a LB, not sure a pint of sugar does.
All I do is dump a 50lb bag of sugar into a 20 gallon plastic garbage can, add a five gallon bucket of hot water (actually less than 5 as I only fill to about 4" from top) and mix, this actually comes in around 1.5:1 which seems to work just fine for my bees. Each mix will yeild 8 gallons and I feed using 1 gallon pails. I have 14 hive so have to do this twice, I dont do one big mix as the sugar gets a lot harder to dissolve in the larger volumn.
Biggest thing to consider is can the bees convert it before they cluster, your weather and number of bees in the hive will make this different for everybody. If they cannot get the water content down in time then the syrup can ferment and your bees will get dissentry.

[rdy-b]

          must only work with water and such-a pint of honey is 24oz -pound and a half - ;)
       the world around-If they where in the UK the pints would be IMPERiAL-which are 20oz-unlike our
      16 oz pint-belive it or not- :lol: RDY-B

[Michael Bush]

A pint of sugar isn't exactly a pound but it's close enough.  A pint of water is pretty close to exactly, but still not exactly a pound, but it's close enough.  A pint of oil is close enough.  A pint of honey, of course, is not a pound, it's a pound and a half...