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Permalink Reply by NHF on January 22, 2012 at 7:23pm

The first year we had bees we got them late and had to feed them through the winter.  We used an entrance feeder with sugar water and it worked fine.  We just mixed warm water and white sugar in equal parts, stir until dissolved, let cool and then feed to the hive.  It's important though to use a proper feeder so that you don't start hive robbing and the bees don't drown in the syrup.  After the first winter, the hives were strong enough to make plenty of honey for the year so that we don't have to feed them any more.  Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Scott Ray on January 22, 2012 at 9:45pm

Thanks, Liz and Tim for replying! (BTW: I just saw your posted link for the Farm Dreams podcast... I'm excited to hear from you again!). 

Were you referring to Boardman feeders? I have been using boardman feeders all late summer and fall, but at my bee club, they were talking about candy boards as a better way to feed (since the food source is directly above the winter cluster) and because it also has the added benefit of absorbing moisture in the hive. 

I've lost one hive this winter due to lack of honey stores and don't want to loose the second hive. I'm in Greenville, so my weather is similar to yours. I guess the bees will at least be able to feed every so often from this feeder when the weather gets into the 60's (??). This hive is much stronger and had more honey stored, but I can't help but wish I had been able to give the other (dead) hive a better fighting chance with candy boards. 

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Permalink Reply by NHF on January 23, 2012 at 10:44am

Cool!  Thanks for listening!

Yes, those are the feeders.  We have never had any trouble with them.  Especially since this winter is mild, we've seen the girls out every week, so they could definitely drink from an entrance feeder.  If you've already got one and are worried about the hive, then put it out there just in case right away.  If they don't want the sugar syrup then they won't drink it so you really haven't lost anything.  There are also hive top feeders which hold more and are placed inside the hive so there is no chance of robbing, but I would try the feeder you've already got instead.  If you ask a question in beekeeping you tend to get a different answer from everyone.  Like most things, you end up having to learn from your own experience!    

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Permalink Reply by Mike Boyd on January 23, 2012 at 1:29pm

Did you take honey this fall from the hive that did not survive?  Or for that matter the hive that did survive?

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Permalink Reply by Scott Ray on January 23, 2012 at 4:00pm

No, these were two new hives installed from 3lb packages last Easter. They simply did not make enough for the winter. They obviously consumed a lot in the production of the wax needed to build out the comb. But the surviving hive was noticably stronger than the weaker hive -something I noticed early in the summer. I should have combined the hives in the fall.

Mike Boyd said:

Did you take honey this fall from the hive that did not survive?  Or for that matter the hive that did survive?

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Permalink Reply by rlephoto on January 23, 2012 at 5:37pm

Scott,

Guess we are in about the same climate as you are here in Durham, NC. The main beekeeper here that winters a lot of hives he uses one of these in hive feeders, you place in at the side of the brood cluster in place of a frame. It is a plastic tub type thing and he uses 1/4 inch welded wire mesh placed inside it for the bees to climb on. I tried to install one but found I still had 10 deep frames of honey above the brood box last week. I believe I over fed the bees sugar last summer, but they are doing well, cross my fingers. I'd just stick with a 1-1 mix of sugar and water myself.

Randy

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Permalink Reply by Scott Ray on January 24, 2012 at 11:36pm

Randy,

It sounds like you are describing a division board feeder... kind of reminds me of a radiator. I haven't used a division board feeder, but am familiar with it. I think I might give it a try in the fall this season. I like that it prevents robbing. I'm sure that the stronger hive I had last year robbed from the weaker because I'd the weaker hive's sugar water jar was always empty before the stronger hive's jar.

But going back to my original question, I'm interested in trying to make candy to feed the bees. This method allows you feed winter bees by placing piece of candy directly over the cluster. The cluster won't move from the cluster to get food (even if only a few inches) if the weather is too cold. But if the candy it resting right above them on the tops of the frames then they can get to the food source. 

I'm just a little foggy on the make procedure, having not made candy at all before. I understand that it is a matter of making a sugar syrup and bringing it to a certain temp, then pouring it into a mold. I am unsure what temp to cook it to and what temps will mean you end up poisoning the bees (scalded sugar is toxic to bees).  Also, I have found different opinions (imagine that!) about the ratio of sugar to water used. Also, how long does it need to be at whatever temp?

Randy, tell me about your bees!

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Permalink Reply by Homesteader on January 31, 2012 at 8:03pm

I feed my hives  with a half gallon mason jar upside down on top of the inside cover with a deep hive body box on top covered by telescoping cover with small holes poked in the mason top. this I put on two sticks, the size of pencils. The jars contain cane sugar, 2.5 pounds of sugar per two quart jar, two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar, and one teaspoon of honey bee healthy.  My nuc hive did not make it, but it was robbed out and all the bees killed, not starved.

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Permalink Reply by UrbanFarmer on February 13, 2012 at 2:46pm

I tried the Mountain Camp method this year. It's much easier than making candy boards and the bees seem to be loving it just fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw4pEnUoX88

http://www.indianahoney.com/ihf/drysugar/drysugar.html

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Permalink Reply by David Davison on May 30, 2012 at 10:00pm

Scott,

I have considered making the candy board as well, but  found using just a plain ol sugar syrup to be much easier.  We really only had 2 weeks of cold and I think the girls flew most of the winter. 

 

I use a two qt top jar feeder.  if I thought it was going to get very cold, I would place a deep super over it with a another lid.  Are you running two deeps for your brood boxes?

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