Candy Boards

gardeningfireman · January 22, 2012, 03:00:53 PM

I don't think my hives have enough stores this winter. It has been really mild, so I am sure the bees have been eating more. I made candy boards(10 lbs. of sugar each). How do the bees eat it? It is hard as a rock! I am hoping these will help them last the winter.

Robo · January 22, 2012, 03:33:19 PM

Moisture from the hive softens it.

derekm · January 22, 2012, 05:12:22 PM

Quote from: gardeningfireman on January 22, 2012, 03:00:53 PM
I don't think my hives have enough stores this winter. It has been really mild, so I am sure the bees have been eating more. I made candy boards(10 lbs. of sugar each). How do the bees eat it? It is hard as a rock! I am hoping these will help them last the winter.

like any boiled sweet they have to suck it :)

beekeeperookie · January 22, 2012, 05:24:04 PM

I just use the wintering inner cover from brushy mountain fill it up with sugar and let the moisture soften it. I don't make the candy anymore to messy

Michael Bach · January 22, 2012, 06:32:47 PM

Like others have said.....the moisture from the bees softens the candy to a syrupy state.

I have hive that have blown through 30lbs of candy.

gardeningfireman · January 22, 2012, 06:41:12 PM

Thanks All! I feel much better about it now. I actually feel at least some of my hives will make it now! :-D

gardeningfireman · January 23, 2012, 06:52:36 PM

It got into the 50's today, so I checked the six hives I have at home. One Lang is dead. The other three Langs, the nuc, and the TBH are all alive. I put candy boards on the Langs, which still have frames of honey, and sugar on the inner covers, and put some honey frames from the deadout and some sugar into the nuc. When I get a chance, I will go to the farm down the road and check on the Lang I have there.