After fondant

[busybee53]

I have given 2.5k fondant per hive as I thought the bees were too active due to the warm weather and might be using up their stores early. Hives seemed a bit lighter on hefting. I did this at the same time as OA treatment so as not to open the hive unnecessarily. Now I am wondering how long to leave it before checking if it has been used. Is 4 weeks too long?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I can only go by my hives as they are at the moment- the most voracious one goes through a Kilo in a fortnight,the nuc in four weeks. So by that - four weeks should be ok.

 

[drstitson]

Donning my PH hat for a moment.

If your hives felt light enough to NEED fondant (rather than simply taking advantage of opening for OA ie just to KTBWOS) then it should have been a decent slab (half or whole block) slapped on the top of the frames within a shallow eke.

Dinna futter aboot. Gae the bees the scran they need.

 

[busybee53]

Not sure what a block of fondant looks like. Mine was in a 2.5 kilo bag. Yes I put it on top of the frames with a shallow eke. One of my hives could be described as voracious, but there might be fewer bees now than in early January (when it was still quite warm). Sounds like four weeks from when I put it on is about right then. I will check then but it will be wetted sugar if they need anything and if the catkins are not out yet. Thanks both for the advice.

 

[oliver90owner]

Not sure what a block of fondant looks like.

Cuboid. Usually supplied in a cardboard box. But you can make it into any shape you like - after all, it is mainly used for icing cakes.

RAB

 

[enrico]

Surely that depends on the size of the block O90 as mine come in 12Kg blocks!
E

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Surely that depends on the size of the block O90 as mine come in 12Kg blocks!
E

Pretty standard size I think, but I'm not sure which part of the statement you were questioning -
Wasnt yours cuboid?
Not in a carboard box?
Not malliable?
Not suitable for icing cakes?

 

[luckydunny]

I can only go by my hives as they are at the moment- the most voracious one goes through a Kilo in a fortnight,the nuc in four weeks. So by that - four weeks should be ok.

For one hive a fortnight is about right. For another a month, for another they have not touched it....But then they have a super under brood and thus enough stores or they are goners!!!! Yikes!

 

[Nic Rhodes]

sure mine was a circular block with a hole through the middle to match the donuts