drawing comb with an ivy flow on?

[biglongdarren]

will bees draw out comb with a good ivy flow on,considering the tempertures right?
Darren

 

[Mike a]

Yes, and if you have a lot of Ivy then its possible they could fill a super, although I wouldn't want a bucket of Ivy honey as it tastes foul and is said to be worse than OSR for setting like concrete.

 

[Winker]

I am going to give my bees another 3 weeks before i feed them for the winter, this will let them store some Ivy Honey in the BB for winter feed. There is loads of ivy around here, and they bees are still working the HB. Then i will make up the rest of the winter feed with Ambrosia.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I prefer to feed them first,so they cannot store to much ivy honey.

 

[Chris Luck]

I prefer to feed them first,so they cannot store to much ivy honey.

Why would that be?

Chris

 

[Polyanwood]

I do the same and deliberately feed before the ivy. the reasons are three...

1. I don't want to leave it to chance. i want them fed early in case it gets cold early and then their lives are more precarious if they haven't a full BB of stores

2. I want them to take thymolated syrup so that they will get protected agaisnt nosema

3. Ivy honey is a pain. They seem to take is last because it goes so hard so quickly.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Why would that be?

Chris

Because i prefer to.

 

[Polyanwood]

less is more

 

[Chris Luck]

Ivy honey is a pain. They seem to take is last because it goes so hard so quickly.

Really? I haven't found that to be the case at all and the bees certainly do like it.

Chris

 

[BBG]

Because i prefer to.

When do you prefer to and how do you know when is right - please.

 

[Hivemaker.]

When do you prefer to and how do you know when is right - please.

Just before the ivy comes into full flower.

 

[BBG]

Just before the ivy comes into full flower.

Thanks - and logical of course

 

[Polyanwood]

Really? I haven't found that to be the case at all and the bees certainly do like it.

Chris

They like it ...but not as much as other honey. In the Spring mine leave it until last and do seem to delay exapnding the brood nest onto those frames. The pollen on the otherhand, is good stuff.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

There are some who have the view that Ivy honey sets so hard in the comb that bees find it difficult to deal with during the winter/spring. Having some syrup in the hive means that the ivy honey is not so prevalent. I have to say that I have seen no problem with ivy honey even though it sets like slabs of concrete in the comb. The taste is not brilliant either. IF we get bad weather and Ivy honey doesn't come in, then the bees have a problem with insufficent stores and little time in which to feed. SO I have been feeding now - in advance of ivy.

 

[Chris Luck]

I've never seen a problem caused by Ivy honey, even in combs that have perhaps been in continuous use for 20 years or more and have never been manipulated. If, as some would suggest, it was neither good for bees or even indeed impossible for them to use this wouldn't be the case as the colony would be full of it with no room to move. In reality this isn't the case and the bees both collect it and use it year after year after year after year....

Chris

 

[freethorpe bees]

I have been advised to feed the same time as the ivy flowers so the stores are 'diluted' as it were. *exit stage left*

 

[plumberman]

I've had hives rammed with ivy honey: it all gets used up in the spring!

Fondant is crystallised sugar, so what is the problem for the bees when ivy honey crystallises?

 

[mbc]

God given ivy nectar or imported sugar - which is more sustainable ?
Feeding before an ivy flow can be a usefull tool in building colonies or getting comb drawn but for filling existing combs with stores ?!
It certainly doesnt fit in with my beekeeping goals.

 

[tonybloke]

God given ivy nectar or imported sugar - which is more sustainable ?
Feeding before an ivy flow can be a usefull tool in building colonies or getting comb drawn but for filling existing combs with stores ?!
It certainly doesnt fit in with my beekeeping goals.

religion ( "God-given" ) shouldn't come into the equation!,
I use British Sugar, from local factory (about 10 miles away) therefore the 'imported' argument also fails.
Bees are short of stores atm, and I am feeding whilst applying 'apiguard'

this fits in with my 'keeping bees alive' goals

 

[the naked beekeeper]

For my part:

I would always rather the bees have their preferred food source, (honey) than a poor imitation, nutritionally deficient.
Bees have been around 150mill years+. I think they know what's best for them.

I keep bees that have to cope with it. Any strains which can't are no good to me and ultimately themsleves and the area. I keep the strain of bee most suited to my climate. Feeding is a pain and a faff and costs money. I want to work with my bees.

It doesn't taste that bad. It's different. And as another form of honey, which in itself is a sublime miracle and nothing to ever get complacent about, I think it should challenge us to use it in other ways than just bottle it up.

If you're feeding established colonies (not late increase) now because they're low on stores. Then you've taken too much honey. Usually.

That's how some people run their hives. I prefer to leave them with what I think is a surplus of honey.