Concentrated syrup does not have the same effect on stimulating laying as dilute syrup and takes less energy to dehydrate. This is why it is often fed in Autumn to boost stores pre-winter. Fondant can be used as an alternative.
Some use fondant in mating nucs too but that's probably outside the immediate sphere of the question.
I understand people sometimes feed fondant to nucs in late summer instead of syrup (if they’re short of stores)…the reason being that they want to make sure the colony doesn’t starve, but also ensure sufficient space remains for the queen to lay the winter bees. Their argument being that if they fed syrup instead, the brood nest would quickly be back filled at precisely the time it should be available for the queen to lay.
It’s actually hard to over feed a colony and if your inspecting I’d say impossible, because you simply stop or rotate frames in. Also when you see how packed a box can actually get you’ll realise how much they can actually pack in.I understand people sometimes feed fondant to nucs in late summer instead of syrup (if they’re short of stores)…the reason being that they want to make sure the colony doesn’t starve, but also ensure sufficient space remains for the queen to lay the winter bees. Their argument being that if they fed syrup instead, the brood nest would quickly be back filled at precisely the time it should be available for the queen to lay.
I understand people sometimes feed fondant to nucs in late summer instead of syrup (if they’re short of stores)…the reason being that they want to make sure the colony doesn’t starve, but also ensure sufficient space remains for the queen to lay the winter bees. Their argument being that if they fed syrup instead, the brood nest would quickly be back filled at precisely the time it should be available for the queen to lay.
It may be an 'argument' they put up but they are sadly unaware of what their bees do. Bees will take down and store fondant in the autumn just as easily as they do syrup so will just as quickly take up brooding space.I understand people sometimes feed fondant to nucs in late summer instead of syrup (if they’re short of stores)…the reason being that they want to make sure the colony doesn’t starve, but also ensure sufficient space remains for the queen to lay the winter bees. Their argument being that if they fed syrup instead, the brood nest would quickly be back filled at precisely the time it should be available for the queen to lay.
In spring I even food resources between hives, and I do not need to feed hives in spring with sugar.
My nature starts to give willow pollen at the beginning of May. Some year willow in the middle of April, but mostly weathers are so low, that bees cannot fly to willows.
feels like it's not even on the same planet sometimesFinnyland is not quite the same as UK
feels like it's not even on the same planet sometimes
Finnyland is not quite the same as UK. I used to feed dilute syrup early/mid February to some colonies try to to get them ready for the OSR, which may start flowering in late March (dependent on the weather, of course).
had some of that once - tasted lovely with chocolate sprinkles, a wafer and some fresh creamfreezing brizzle
I have fed pollen and pollen patty to my bees 30 years, that bees start brood rearing 3 weeks earlie than willow blooming.
Pollen patty is not good enough food to larvae.
When pollen is out in the hive, bees eate first their larvae. That is their natural system.
I agree pollen is also needed for brooding. However, you appear to contradict yourself. Would you be willing to clarify/give a bit more detail?
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