Adding a supplement

[Nannysbees]

New to beekeeping this year. Have two hives and preparing for winter. We have started to feed with sugar water does anyone add a supplement to the sugar like "hive alive' or honey bee healthy? Any advice gratefully received

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

I have used Hive Alive and I have not lost a colony yet over winter. That may be totally unrelated but may not be.
The product was recommended by a bee farmer who I bought my first nuc from.

 

[Nannysbees]

Brilliant thank you

 

[Niv]

Conversely, I do not see the need to add anything and similarly, see no ill effects. I recently attended a lecture by the chap that runs 'The Apirarist' (his name eludes me at the moment) and he suggests just a block of regular bakers fondant.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have used Hive Alive

Mostly snake oil but does have some beneficial ingredients. - You're better off making your own Thymol emulsion as per the recipe in the resources section basically the same but without the magic fairy dust and much cheaper

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threa...ma-fermentation-of-syrup-feed.6513/post-74387

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thymol. Some of my syrup gets a dose if I remember

 

[GuyNir]

I also use a few drops of thyme oil in every feed. Prevents mould as well.

 

[Monbees]

I also use a few drops of thyme oil in every feed. Prevents mould as well.

Is thyme oil essential essence as effective as thymol crystals?

 

[Murox]

Thymol / oil of thyme is extracted from common thyme and is found in plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family (Thymus, Ocimum, Origanum, and Monarda genera), and other plants such as those belonging to the Verbenaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Apiaceae families.
Read this paper.............

 

[Jonathan]

I also use a few drops of thyme oil in every feed. Prevents mould as well.

Does this float or does it spread through the syrup like the emulsified thymol I use. If it does then we’ll worth a look

 

[GuyNir]

Does this float or does it spread through the syrup like the emulsified thymol I use. If it does then we’ll worth a look

Drops stay on top, but once I shake the container, it’s mixed in.

 

[Monbees]

Drops stay on top, but once I shake the container, it’s mixed in.

I add lecithin to essential oil, this emulsifies the oil.

 

[Monbees]

But my original query was whether essential oil is as effective as thymol crystals?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

But my original query was whether essential oil is as effective as thymol crystals?

No it's not - totally different thing, you may as well substitute it with aftershave

 

[Monbees]

No it's not - totally different thing, you may as well substitute it with aftershave

Perhaps l'll try aftershave then.

 

[Brian Bush]

I have used Hive Alive this year for the first time. I acquired a lot of free samples at the BeeTradex!! Like JBM I always referred to it a snake oil, however, I experimented with the feeding of 2 pairs of NUCs. A very unscientific experiment with subjective results! The Nucs with Hive alive added grew more rapidly and consumed more syrup. The Thymol stopped the growth of mould which saved me having to make up extra additive. I have added it to all my feeding solutions and all hives, with one exception, have consumed it and look healthy. Of course, the full impact will not be known until next Spring.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Thymol / oil of thyme is extracted from common thyme and is found in plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family (Thymus, Ocimum, Origanum, and Monarda genera), and other plants such as those belonging to the Verbenaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Apiaceae families.
Read this paper.............

Really good link murox thankyou.
Doesn't apilife, - var contain eucalyptus oil

 

[Niv]

After reading the replies here and having a read of the recipe thread, I think I will start adding a supplement of thymol in lecethin. I am guessing i will find these on ebay.

Every day is a school day.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Conversely, I do not see the need to add anything and similarly, see no ill effects. I recently attended a lecture by the chap that runs 'The Apirarist' (his name eludes me at the moment) and he suggests just a block of regular bakers fondant.

I agree that fondant is all that’s required. Hive Alive, snake oil, thymol and aftershave are adopting a belt and braces approach. Naturally, the additives are only any good for liquid feed, whereas The Apiarist, David Evans, uses fondant, partly because he doesn’t have very regular access to his colonies.
As I said, my results may not be attributed to the product, but might be.

 

[Niv]

I agree that fondant is all that’s required. Hive Alive, snake oil, thymol and aftershave are adopting a belt and braces approach. Naturally, the additives are only any good for liquid feed, whereas The Apiarist, David Evans, uses fondant, partly because he doesn’t have very regular access to his colonies.
As I said, my results may not be attributed to the product, but might be.

Thanks for naming the chap! You may well be right that his reasons for fondant only is access, it was a bit of an iffy zoom connection. My core reason for deciding to add something is that the other thread mentions it could help prevent/reduce nosema. So for a few quid spent on thymol and lecethin crystals it seems worth a try (no need for the alcohol either as later explained in the linked thread).