feeding - a bout of the runs?

[beecology]

With heavy rain for three days I decided to feed a split hive (A/S) with 1:1 syrup.

I used granulated white sugar but now the weather has picked up, said bees have emptied themselves on the front of the hive and landing board.

The matter is clay coloured and quite watery - just like the runs.

I presume this is normal and a result of them filling themselves with stores and being confined. My syrup filled them up and the result has been the runs? Is this accurate and nothing to worry about?

 

[oliver90owner]

Don't presume. It is not accurate and it is not normal.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Read up about Nosema apis from Fera https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?pageid=191 and Dave Cushman's site http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/nosema.html

Some people think that adding a few drops of Hivemaker's thymol recipe to syrup helps deal with it. I don't know if it works, because I have yet to see symptoms. http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6513

 

[beecology]

Don't presume. It is not accurate and it is not normal.

Don't be patronising, it is not normal or constructive -especially when someone (in the beginners section) is asking for advice

 

[beecology]

Read up about Nosema apis from Fera https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?pageid=191 and Dave Cushman's site http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/nosema.html

Some people think that adding a few drops of Hivemaker's thymol recipe to syrup helps deal with it. I don't know if it works, because I have yet to see symptoms. http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6513

Thanks Beejoyful - I have read up on Nosema but the defecating only occurred following feeding. Now feeding has stopped, so has the runs as it were. There were no other Nosema symptoms either?

I have read that certain sugars - namely brown sugars are prone to cause dysentery but not plain old granulated white sugar, fed at the stated ratio...

 

[thebeeman]

Hi beecology this is normal taking in to account the rain and doing a split the bees react just like people and was most likely caused by stress combined with a feed. this will clear up very quickly.

the other thing that is normal is the patronising attitude of some but thankfully a very small handful of some of the comments given.

 

[Black Comb]

Did you use freshly mixed feed?
If the syrup is more than a few days old it can start to ferment in this weather and give them the runs. You can inhibit fermentation by using hivemakers recipe in the sticky section.

Back to his old ways, having a go at beginners. Shame on you Mark.