feeding fondant.

[reigate]

my bees have now stopped taking syrup (not touched for 1 week) Is it time for Fondant or should i wait until they cluster.

 

[Erichalfbee]

my bees have now stopped taking syrup (not touched for 1 week) Is it time for Fondant or should i wait until they cluster.

I would wait till they need it
If you have fed to winter weight I wouldn’t worry about fondant till early Spring

 

[SDM]

I would wait till they need it
If you have fed to winter weight I wouldn’t worry about fondant till early Spring

I don't bother hefting mine now til February ish.

 

[reigate]

they seem to be a little light on stores

 

[Poly Hive]

It would help to know what hive you are using please?

PH

 

[Ian123]

Not sure why yours have stopped taking it your not a million miles from me it’s really not cold enough for that to be the case. Could be it’s gone sour could be they don’t know it’s there, check it trickle a little down

 

[Erichalfbee]

they seem to be a little light on stores

Well are they?
Weigh them if not sure?
Luggage scales. Hook under each side of floor. Lift a cm or two, no more, weigh and add together.
Weigh your spare kit to get the weight of the component parts ( there are some hive weights in a sticky) add 5lb for bees aim for 40lb stores

 

[Millet]

I don't bother hefting mine now til February ish.

Luckily i checked all mine yesterday otherwise i may have been down one colony..all where just about up to weight but one was desperately light for what ever reason..the rapid feeder was filled up with warmed thymol syrup and i have plenty of fondant at the ready if it is needed..

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I have a couple of light colonies. Use luggage scale and not taking 2:1 syrup in English feeder. Wooden National brood boxes. Reflectix insulation on top of feeder.
As they are small my theory is they don't create enough heat to make the syrup palatable. Big colonies still taking syrup and putting it somewhere. Thinking of swapping to fondant in a takeaway box over the crownboard. ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have a couple of light colonies. Use luggage scale and not taking 2:1 syrup in English feeder. Wooden National brood boxes. Reflectix insulation on top of feeder.
As they are small my theory is they don't create enough heat to make the syrup palatable. Big colonies still taking syrup and putting it somewhere. Thinking of swapping to fondant in a takeaway box over the crownboard. ?

If they are that small the fondant would be better straight on the top bars with the crownboard flipped over to create space
And maybe even in a poly nuc