Dumb question

[Popparand]

I might have to give the bees some fondant soon. How can I clear bees from the underside of the crown board so they dont get squashed? Is it OK to smoke them off? I want to avoid casualties if I can.

 

[B+.]

I might have to give the bees some fondant soon. How can I clear bees from the underside of the crown board so they dont get squashed? Is it OK to smoke them off? I want to avoid casualties if I can.

If the weather remains cool, they will probably be lethargic. If you knock the cover-board, they will drop off into the box below. Do what you need to do quickly and reassemble the hive

 

[Beefriendly]

Depends how you are planning to add your fondant.
If using an eke and block of fondant leave them, they will come down to join the rest of the bees. However, if adding extra insulation directly over your block and blocking off the roof, then try brushing them off. They will be pretty lethargic.
I wouldn't "tap" them off against the hive if it's cold, as the vibrations will disturb the rest of the cluster.

 

[Ian123]

If your crown board has the bee escape holes and the cluster is visible then just place fondant over the correct hole. Most purchased 1s have 2 holes so at the most you may need to rotate till you get a hole over cluster. That may save you a bit of banging or disturbance. The obvious thing is make sure cluster is in contact with fondant

 

[Beefriendly]

If your crown board has the bee escape holes and the cluster is visible then just place fondant over the correct hole.

Not sure that would be my preferred way. Bees can (not always) be reluctant to leave the cluster and travel through the crown board, particularly with very cold weather. I've found placing fondant on top of the frames makes it easier and more accessible for them. But then I live in subarctic North Yorkshire, not tropical Surrey

 

[Hivemaker.]

If your crown board has the bee escape holes and the cluster is visible then just place fondant over the correct hole. Most purchased 1s have 2 holes so at the most you may need to rotate till you get a hole over cluster. That may save you a bit of banging or disturbance. The obvious thing is make sure cluster is in contact with fondant

That's how it's done here as well, bees love the warmth up top.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

That's how it's done here as well, bees love the warmth up top.

Works for me

 

[Curly green fingers]

I think the closer you can get it to the cluster the better, I put mine on the top bars of the frames reversible crown board with eke. Even doing this there has been the odd dead bee on top of the fondant, obviously got separated and got cold .
I wouldn't be putting it on top of the crown board.
I would only do what the others are suggesting if the colony was a good size and all over the top bars anyway.

 

[alfazer]

Any of you make your own candy boards? The type that cover the whole top surface of the frames. Seems popular in America and looks like good idea, but don't see much about them being used in UK.

 

[enrico]

I used to know someone who just put a 12.5 kilo box of fondant on top bars with hole in the box. No other feed but that. His bees seemed to do ok. Fits nicely into an empty super with a bit of insulation round the outside.
E

 

[Millet]

How big was the colony..

 

[masterBK]

Any of you make your own candy boards? The type that cover the whole top surface of the frames. Seems popular in America and looks like good idea, but don't see much about them being used in UK.

With bakers fondant being reasonably cheap and easy to obtain few beekeepers go to the trouble of making candy these days. However there are still a few that do.

 

[Popparand]

With bakers fondant being reasonably cheap and easy to obtain few beekeepers go to the trouble of making candy these days. However there are still a few that do.

£4.50 for 2.5kg?

 

[masterBK]

More like £9.90 for 12.5 Kg (at Shepcotes)

 

[simonforeman]

£11.80 for 12.5kg at our local Friers Pride in Peterborough

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Seven and a half quid for 12.5 Kg with Bako Wales

 

[Eyeman]

If you're concerned about the fondant squashing bees when you put it on the top bars then first place 2 pieces of wood (10mm thick) across the top bars and let the fondant sit on the wood.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Seven and a half quid for 12.5 Kg with Bako Wales

Bako south west is now down to £6.45 for 12.5 kg, lowest its been for years.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bako south west is now down to £6.45 for 12.5 kg, lowest its been for years.

yes, but some of us only buy it by the quarter palletful