Average amount of syrup fed annually before winter?

[bigdara]

I'm trying to get an idea on what is the average amount of syrup that is fed before winter and would love some feed back.

I realise it varies wildly between regions, bee type, beekeeping style etc but if I could get some idea of what tends to be your average, or if you have a good idea of what the average is in you area that would be great too. Any information about the style/region of you beekeeping would also help but is not necessary.

Do large scale beekeepers always feed more or is it the other way around? All comments welcome. Thanks very much.

 

[enrico]

I allow for a couple of gallons per hive
E

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'm trying to get an idea on what is the average amount of syrup that is fed before winter and would love some feed back.

Which size and type/make of hive.

 

[bees4u]

I'm trying to get an idea on what is the average amount of syrup that is fed before winter and would love some feed back.

I realise it varies wildly between regions, bee type, beekeeping style etc but if I could get some idea of what tends to be your average, or if you have a good idea of what the average is in you area that would be great too. Any information about the style/region of you beekeeping would also help but is not necessary.

Do large scale beekeepers always feed more or is it the other way around? All comments welcome. Thanks very much.

I always feed at least a couple of gallons so that the hive is very heavy when hefting it, and I'm on nationals & only feed tate & lyle sugar with thymol

 

[itma]

I'm trying to get an idea on what is the average amount of syrup that is fed before winter and would love some feed back.

... if I could get some idea of what tends to be your average, or if you have a good idea of what the average is in you area that would be great too. ...

Welcome to the forum.

The thing you haven't explained is what would be the reason for the question?

 

[BeeNice]

You can't have an average amount to feed, it all depends on whether the bees have enough stores, how much honey you leave on for the bees, whether the bees have a late nectar flow ie HB and how heavy is the hive on hefting. It's all down to you to work it out, the most important things is 'is there enough to get them through the winter and early spring' this is the danger time and I would think, like every other beekeeper, when to go from fondant to light syrup for the spring build up.
regards
Steven

 

[Erichalfbee]

I didn't measure mine,just fed till they stopped taking it.
However....we had such a mild autumn and they were bringing in so much ivy that on two occasions I took 2 frames of stores off putting an empty one between two full ones and one in the middle of the brood.
I've weighed them through the winter and one needs fondant now but I will swap that for one of those frames as soon as it's warm enough to get into the hive.

 

[oliver90owner]

Not autumn-fed sugar syrup for at least the last 5 years. It would depend on things like commercial beeks clearing out the last possible skeret of honey from the frames - and some of them don't feed any syrup at all, either.

So many variables, not least when does the season end, size of wintering box or combination.

 

[REDWOOD]

3 gallons if they have no stores or 2 if they have stores but this depends on the amount of stores they have, on a 14x12 brood box they usually store quite a bit, which I don't mind

 

[drstitson]

2-3 gallons

 

[user 6228]

Zero...
but then we know nothing and were going for higher than usual insulation... so we thought it was best to observe and see what they needed.... left a half filled super on the bigger colony and watched...
it appears from the fondant uptake ... they didnt need it...
We now have a surplus of Tate and Lyle...

 

[psafloyd]

Exactly none. Two did have fondant but only once I was sure they needed it.

Not saying I won't do it but I won't unless I have to.

 

[chipper]

Every season will be different.Empty Hives themselves will weigh differently depending on the density of the wood.
I feed until the hives will take no more but I dont start until around 1st October and use Ambrosia....Last year an average was near 10kg per Langstroth Jumbo (144 hives)
Only 3 hives need fondant now.

 

[oliver90owner]

Empty Hives themselves will weigh differently depending on the density of the wood.


Any relevance? Might depend on a lot of factors when one thinks about it.

Density of wood
Size of roof
Material of roof cover
Type of hive
Polystyrene?
Other plastics
Thickness of wood
Size of box(es)
Number of boxes
Type of frames

There are likely a few more

 

[bigdara]

Hi,

Thanks all for the great replies. I feed one to two gallons myself depending on the ivy. I'm basically interested in what sort of diversity there is out there in how much, if at all, syrup is fed. Please keep the comments coming, fascinating. Thanks.