Dead bees on fondant

[Queen Brenda]

Hi all. Each of my 3 colonies, all on wooden 14x12s, were given a 2Kg slab of fondant before Christmas. I put the slabs into lidded plastic food boxes with a hole in the bottom onto the clear crown board hole. There are quite a few, ?? 70 dead bees which look as if they're stuck in the fondant where it has liquified slighlty at the edges. The colonies are otherwise healthy and full but why are they getting stuck in the fondant?

 

[drex]

Fondant will attract water vapour and will go " gooey". Do you have insulation over the crown board and fondant? do you have solid or OMF floors? Sounds like there is excess moisture in the hives for some reason. I apply fondant directly onto the top bars in an eke and never have a problem.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Surround it with insulation

 

[Queen Brenda]

Thanks both. Yes, OMF, celotex insulation above eke containing the box of fondant. Maybe I should remove the perspex crownboard and put the fondant directly across the frames. Doesn't it make a ghastly mess of the frames and slump down into the frames if they don't take it? I have wondered about condensation as occasionally looks moist under the crownboard.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks both. Yes, OMF, celotex insulation above eke containing the box of fondant. Maybe I should remove the perspex crownboard and put the fondant directly across the frames. Doesn't it make a ghastly mess of the frames and slump down into the frames if they don't take it? I have wondered about condensation as occasionally looks moist under the crownboard.

Condensation at edges of the crownboard is fine and bees use the water. What I do is if the bees come up to the feeder hole then fondant is fine over the crownboard. If they don’t then I take the top off and put the thinly rolled fondant on the top bars. If you put it straight on then the heat and moisture of the bees may well make it gloop down so you put it between two layers of greaseproof with a good few slits on the underside at right angles to the top bars. That way the bees have access wherever they are.

 

[madasafish]

Condensation at edges of the crownboard is fine and bees use the water. What I do is if the bees come up to the feeder hole then fondant is fine over the crownboard. If they don’t then I take the top off and put the thinly rolled fondant on the top bars. If you put it straight on then the heat and moisture of the bees may well make it gloop down so you put it between two layers of greaseproof with a good few slits on the underside at right angles to the top bars. That way the bees have access wherever they are.

I replace the greaseproof paper with a freezer bag to easier to carry - slit access done only before placement. I also roll fondant flat inside a freezer bag.. less to clean up afterwards..(yes.. I'm a lazy male)

 

[Wingy]

Fondant will attract water vapour and will go " gooey". Do you have insulation over the crown board and fondant? do you have solid or OMF floors? Sounds like there is excess moisture in the hives for some reason. I apply fondant directly onto the top bars in an eke and never have a problem.

This is what I have done, 5 frame langstroth nuc, insulated, OMF with inspection board pulled out 1/3 of the way, block of fondant directly on top of the frames with an eke, clear celotex CB with no holes, insulation & roof.
I have noticed a bit of sugary wet on the inspection board along with wax cappings. Bees are doing fine and any mess that drips down I'm sure the bees will clean up.