feeding bees

DENNIS · September 15, 2006, 10:00:37 AM

hi
I was wondering can you feed bees extra fine sugar dry. this way none will drown. in like the top feeders

Finsky · September 15, 2006, 11:19:54 AM

No you cannot.

If you arrange topfeeder , no bees drown.

You should make surffaces rough so they are not slippy for bees. Sand paper is good for that.

If sugarsyrup is too stiff it acts like clue and bees stuck in liquid. 60-63% is good.

thegolfpsycho · September 15, 2006, 01:15:01 PM

I had a couple colonys in what I considered critical condition. They felt completely empty with about 6 weeks of winter conditions still ahead. I poured granulated sugar between the inner cover and top. The colonys that still had decent population took the sugar back into the hive. I added more sugar a couple times. They made it, but I believe it was a close call, and not easy for them to do.

Finsky · September 15, 2006, 02:40:03 PM

If I am obliged to force-feed hive, I pour 66% syrup into combs.

Bees need water to dilute dry sugar.

Last spring I noticed at afternoon that a lot of bees have come out in front of hive. They have starved and a half were already dead. I poured syrup into combs and after a while colony started to live.

Often colony is in winterball in September and it does not take syrup. In this case I pour syrup into combs of whole box aand I put it under bees. They are obliged to wake up and they move food to upper box.

tom · September 15, 2006, 07:32:09 PM

Hello

Finsky i read that you pour syrup into the comb and feed it that way will it run out and how would go about doing both sides. I would like to try this to put some into my frames that the bees have not filled.

Tom

Finsky · September 16, 2006, 01:20:37 AM

Quote from: tomHello

Finsky i read that you pour syrup into the comb and feed it that way will it run out and how would go about doing both sides. I would like to try this to put some into my frames that the bees have not filled.

Tom

Keep frame in wash-basin in inclined position . Pour stiff syrup in cells. It makes trouble when airbibbles do not come out. But when you repeat pouring, cells will be full of syrup.

When cell is full, syrup won't come out when you turn frame.

You may put one or two or whole box of frames into hive.

Michael Bush · September 16, 2006, 09:57:56 PM

If you're trying to get the bees to stock up for winter, they will not do it on dry sugar. If you want something to keep them from starving, they will take dry sugar when they are starving. They will take it better if it's ground finer in a blender or if you can get "driver" sugar (fine sugar).