Question does anyone use corn syrup?

beekeeperookie · April 08, 2007, 01:08:55 AM

I was wondering does anyone use corn syrup? I seen it advertise in my betterbee catalog. I was just wondering which is better corn syrup or sugar syrup? I would assume the sugar syrup.

Sean Kelly · April 08, 2007, 07:39:02 AM

I was wondering the same thing. Wonder if corn fed bees are anything like corn fed beef. ;-)

Understudy · April 08, 2007, 11:42:36 AM

it's not just corn syrup. It's high fructose corn syrup. I did in the beginning of my beekeeping days. I don't anymore. I know several commerical beekeepers use it. For them it is cheaper to buy that in bulk than sugar.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Michael Bush · April 08, 2007, 02:26:30 PM

>I would assume the sugar syrup.

Shipping on corn syrup is high because you're shipping the water. I've never bought any HFCS. I have no idea how they do on it.

pdmattox · April 08, 2007, 02:42:51 PM

I use high fructose corn syrup to get the bees drawing wax on my plastic foundation when there is not a flow going on and to build stores in the fall after i steal all the honey. Use it to stimulate a nector flow when the pollen is coming in heavy and the brood nest will start to explode.

Side note: sugar water and syrup should not be used when there is a honey super in place due to obvious reasons.

BeeHopper · April 08, 2007, 06:17:26 PM

I use the HFCS with Honey Bee Healthy from Betterbee late winter/early spring to jump start them and also for new packages to draw out comb.The girls love it. :-D

Dane Bramage · April 08, 2007, 09:00:16 PM

An additional point of consideration: most corn in U.S. (85% as of '04) is genetically modified.

There have been studies reporting that animals fed the genetically modified (GM) corn developed extensive health effects in the blood, kidneys and liver. One variety, Mon 863, is genetically engineered to produce a form of a pesticide called bacillus thuringiensis or Bt.

From my way of thinking, feeding bees HFCS from a plant that has had it's DNA modified to produce a pesticide would seem... :? :-\ a potential health risk?

Cindi · April 09, 2007, 12:36:34 AM

Dane, go Dane go. You have some good insight to corn (right GMO corn!!!!). Say no to HFCS. I do. Best of the day, good health. My two cents for all it is worth. Cindi

Sean Kelly · April 09, 2007, 05:20:12 PM

Quote from: Dane Bramage on April 08, 2007, 09:00:16 PM
An additional point of consideration: most corn in U.S. (85% as of '04) is genetically modified.

There have been studies reporting that animals fed the genetically modified (GM) corn developed extensive health effects in the blood, kidneys and liver. One variety, Mon 863, is genetically engineered to produce a form of a pesticide called bacillus thuringiensis or Bt.

From my way of thinking, feeding bees HFCS from a plant that has had it's DNA modified to produce a pesticide would seem... :? :-\ a potential health risk?

Can we say CCD??? I think that's what's going on man, too much genetically modified everything along with heavy use of chemicals. Should we be suprised CCD is happening or are we just that blind? BUY AND GROW ORGANIC! :-)

Sean