Feeding with Fondabee

[dickbowyer]

Previously I have wrapped fondant in clingfilm to stop it drying out when put on top of crownboard but I see that at least one seller says that this is not necessary with Fondabee - anyone have experience of using this without wrapping?

 

[beeno]

Hi Dick,
I am new to using fondant, but I thought the wrapping was to do with it absorbing water and dripping?

 

[oliver90owner]

And if they were to eat a hole in the side of the block, wouldn't a 'whistling' draught be a possible outcome if it is just placed on the crownboard.

Or maybe it slumps with the glucose in it?

I looked at some of the advertising hype and saw nothing to make me think it was little, or any, different from home made fondant (no % of glucose included).

 

[keith pierce]

The idea of buying fondabee it in the bag, is that you just have to cut a small hole out of the bottom of the bag and place over the hole in the crown board. This stops the fondant drying out and stays moist till the last drop. It is also inportant that you lift the crownboad and see where the bees are clustered and then twist the crown board till the fondant is over the heads of the cluster.

 

[Luminos]

I've used it this year; cut one side of the plastic out completely and placed on top of the frames, cut side down, beneath the CB, no gaping holes, with insulation on top

 

[dickbowyer]

And if they were to eat a hole in the side of the block, wouldn't a 'whistling' draught be a possible outcome if it is just placed on the crownboard.

Not if you have those trusty matchsticks under the crownboard already!

 

[Into the lions den]

The idea of buying fondabee it in the bag, is that you just have to cut a small hole out of the bottom of the bag and place over the hole in the crown board.

This product comes both in the portion pack as you are describing which does indeed just need the window cut in it and the cut face placed on top of the cluster, AND in the conventional large blocks. It has been said by the makers of all these fondants that they do not need wrapping and that the bees will simply come up and eat them. I have found this to largely be sales talk. Treat them as you would any other fondant, and wrap it. We back it in HD poly bags rather than use cling film when we need to, but same effect. It WILL tend to dry out if you do not.

 

[oliver90owner]

Not if you have those trusty matchsticks under the crownboard already!

Not really to do with this thread but a whistling draught through the crownboard is likely far worse than around the edges of the hive. All depends on lots of factors, of course, but you don't want cold air passing by the edges of the cluster if possible. Remember, in hives there will be a bee space at the top; in the wild an outdoor colony would have closed all those avenues.