Spring feeding for bees

Latest Articles

Spring feeding for bees

Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary

Author

Message

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 09 10:26 am Post subject: Spring feeding for bees
Has any one started with Spring syrup? I've still got fondant on mine. I'm wondering if I should be changing it. Also - do people use a lighter syrup in Spring than Autumn?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 09 11:24 am Post subject:
Personally I would stick to fondant for another month if they need it. I don't think the bees would mind a liquid feed but it could encourage robbing as there aint nothing else around to gather. When the willow is flowering & you see plenty of pollen coming in then would be the time to start spring feeding if you're that way inclined.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 09 12:47 pm Post subject:
OK. I'll hang fire. The hazel is flowering here, but not the willow yet.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 09 5:58 pm Post subject:
Noticed the willow starting to bloom here today & my bees are taking some in so anytime now would be a good time to start spring feeding.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 09 6:29 pm Post subject:
Cheers. I'll go and investigate at the weekend. It was hailing when I was last up there.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 09 11:17 am Post subject:
I want to start this today, but can't find the proportions for the lighter Spring stuff in any of my books. Does anyone know? Edited to add Honestly - first Google result for "Spring syrup bees" is this thread! But I did find this which others might find useful.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 09 12:42 pm Post subject:
Yep ilb to a pint or 1kg to a litre. I'm opening mine this afternoon now that cold wind has dropped.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 09 4:19 pm Post subject:
1kg/litre's a fair bit more concentrated than 1lb/pint. Unless you're using US pints.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 09 4:46 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

1kg/litre's a fair bit more concentrated than 1lb/pint.

Unless you're using US pints.

It's not that critical at this time of the year as the bees are going to use it immediately for brood rearing not storing.
Having a weak solution of autumn feed would be unwise as the bees might not have time to evaporate the feed before storing & it might ferment in the comb which would upset their digestion over the winter months.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 09 4:48 pm Post subject:
OK, I assumed that you knew what you were talking about, just wondered why it didn't matter. Thanks for explaining.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 09 8:07 pm Post subject:

Well they were looking very perky. The last frame I added was almost full of food, and the other five frames all looked full of bees though I did't pull them all out as it wasn't that warm. I put in another frame and filled up the frame feeder - there was just the last tiny scraps of fondant left, so good timing. Still nice tempered too - didn't use any smoke.

Could only see a couple of varoa carapaces on the floor.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts