Coloured sugar syrup.

[wet bee]

I add cold pressed beetroot juice to sugar syrup for new colonies to help determine whether it is honey or sugar I am extracting. Does anybody else do anything similar, i.e mulberry juice, turmeric , etc..?

[ifixoldhouses]

I put grape koolaid, I haven't noticed any ill effects, some people put food coloring in it.

[wet bee]

Okay great.
I can determine from the non responses that most beekeepers don't give acoitius and sell recycled sugar just to make a buck.
I have 15 'colonies' and am producing some unique rainforest honey but can not sell it because most prospective clients think I am feeding my bees sugar to make a buck. You just can't win. So why should I start?.. Do people really want natural products?..

[iddee]

WOW. With an attitude and outlook on life like that, how do you sell anybody anything? I think I would take my money and run as soon as I met you.

[wet bee]

Response absorbed.
What is wrong with my attitude ?

[iddee]

I have been taught that the word "most" means more than half, AKA the majority. So you say that because you get only one response to a post on a bee forum, that the majority of beekeepers are cheats and crooks.

Do you consider that a reasonable attitude?

[wet bee]

Yes Sir I do.

[iddee]

OK. Then we just agree to disagree and go on with life. Cheers............

[CoolBees]

Here's a question: when you feed colored syrup to the bees, can you see the color even when the "honey" is capped? ... i.e. can you pick up a frame and see it, or do you have to extract it to find out?

[Milo]

What is wrong with my attitude ?

What is wrong is that you started a thread seeking some advice and then when you only received one comment you petulantly proceeded to attack all and sundry accusing every other beekeeper of selling a product fraudulently marketed as honey

So yes, maybe you do have an attitude problem.

[Bob Wilson]

I assume that a label would solve this issue. "Natural Honey: Pure honey from natural nectar". If customers don't believe what my honey says, that's ok. Let those few go buy the anemic tasteless supermarket stuff. Then, give them a toothpick taste of the real stuff to change their mind.

[Seeb]

Here's a question: when you feed colored syrup to the bees, can you see the color even when the "honey" is capped? ... i.e. can you pick up a frame and see it, or do you have to extract it to find out?

I would be interested in the answer to this question

[wet bee]

Yes you can see it when it is uncapped and capped. I have only used beetroot juice. It has a fluorescent red tinge. Bees don?t seem to mind lapping it up. I used the juice of one medium beetroot for every 2 litres of syrup.

[William Bagwell]

Do not "do anything similar" since I do not have bees yet Have been intrigued by this idea for a few months. You are the first I have seen using beet juice rather than food coloring. Seems logical it would be less harmful to the bees than synthetic coloring.

Any pictures?

[wet bee]

No pics

When they are thirsty and hot, try Cokacola.
You should not have to add much sugar.

[wet bee]

Mulberry juice  is very dark and stains.
Next time I get a decent crop of black mulberries I will probably make a pie but any leftovers will be designated to the bees.I am now in a position where I do not need to feed sugar . I have plenty of over extracted honey for their retirement and survival .

[crispy]

Has anyone else sen that post on flow hive discussion about the residue from the m&m s factory in france apparently the bees are feeding on the residue and creating blue ,green and red honey much to the bee keepers disgust as they cannot sell it almost looks like paint .