Fondant on crownboard - today the day to move it?

[itma]

...
I'll look at making some ekes. We bought some National to 14/12 converters which I'm sure would have done the job if I'd made them up already!

That conversion wants a heavy-duty eke. Normally folk use something much more lightweight (and cheaper!) for this sort of task.

Food (sugar, honey...) is the source of heat.
Its a bit controversial, but reducing the heat loss logically ought to give a reduced consumption of stores. If there's enough food, and enough bees to process it, then they can make enough heat to survive in pretty appalling conditions.

One concern for the next few months is to avoid OVERfeeding. You want to come out of winter with a fair bit of empty comb in the hive - ready for the spring population explosion. Lack of (empty) space promotes early swarming.
Scylla and Charybdis...

 

[Moggs]

Logic would tell me the same, but this is where the problem arises of so many different and conflicting references. In this case I think the beek has slavishly conformed to what she's been instructed or read and not applied logic (and not asked).

Whats more important? Food or heat? On the basis that I would have expected them to have sufficient food (or I'd have expected us to have left them with sufficient food!) then heat is obviously most important and fondant can wait.

If they have stores then there's little to worry over and no need for disruption (such is the value of hefting)! If they don't have stores you will add insult to injury in giving them the fuel to heat an open barn! However, if you have top insulation and can get some fondant in with a shallow eke, then minimum disruption and lots of energy in, with bare minimum of additional space to heat (fill the void with insulation).

 

[thorn]

Really easy project to make an eke or two. B&Q strip wood (about 45mm x 10mm?) Wood glue. Some (8?) screws or nails. I used a plastic QX as a square template of the correct size to make assembly even easier.
Something like one is needed for Apiguard treatment. Useful for fondant. Or insulation. Everyone should have a few ...

I'm a total woodworking incompetent, but even I managed an eke. I got some little metal right angle brackets. It meant that my rather erratic sawn edges didn't matter, and there were no problems nailing or screwing wood to wood. Even I was able to position the four strips of wood and screw the brackets in the right place.

 

[parkranger]

Not entirely relevant to the post but... connected.

I have fed fondant above the feeder board. Does the fact that they are taking it, indicate that they are consuming it instead of their stores or because their stores are depleted or as it's above the board, is it possible that they are just moving it downstairs?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not entirely relevant to the post but... connected.

I have fed fondant above the feeder board. Does the fact that they are taking it, indicate that they are consuming it instead of their stores or because their stores are depleted or as it's above the board, is it possible that they are just moving it downstairs?

Having fed too much fondant last year I came to the conclusion that my bees had eaten it in preference to stores.
I wouldn't think they would be moving it in these temperatures.
Hefting is the answer here then you can tell if they are eating fondant because they are low on stores.

 

[parkranger]

Having fed too much fondant last year I came to the conclusion that my bees had eaten it in preference to stores.
I wouldn't think they would be moving it in these temperatures.
Hefting is the answer here then you can tell if they are eating fondant because they are low on stores.

ericA

As a first winter beekeeper, I am not entirely confident on decisions based on my hefting ability and therefore interested in more experienced opinions. If they are eating fondant because they have exhausted stores (unlikely) or eating it in preference to stores then I am not so worried but if they are simply moving it down then I do have concerns for the spring.

 

[oliver90owner]

You may have concerns in the spring if there is insufficient brooding space because the brood box is still stuffed with stores. 1) Early swarming and 2) sugar syrup moved up into a fresh super when fitted.

Reasons why I don't autumn feed unless necessary and don't winter feed unless necessary. A full 14 x 12 or 'a brood and a super' is more than adequate for over-wintering in most situations. I then don't need to interfere with my bees during the winter months, if at all avoidable.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Parkranger,
As I said I wouldn't think they would move fondant down in these temperatures and RAB is right. If they are eating it in preference to their own stores you will have a box with little room for the queen to lay in once she gets going in the spring.

 

[parkranger]

ericA / Rab

Fed fondant to one colony as always knew that they were light on stores due to going Q- twice and only building up late in the season. Later, put fondant on the others as a precaution against depleting stores, at the time, thinking that they would only touch the fondant as a last resort. However, have since considered that, as mentioned, they are taking it instead of stores/moving it down and I have unwittingly created the problem of lack of space for brood in the spring.
When does this steep learning curve flatten out? Don't answer that!
It's a mistake that I will not make again.

 

[Moggs]

Later, put fondant on the others as a precaution against depleting stores, at the time, thinking that they would only touch the fondant as a last resort. However, have since considered that, as mentioned, they are taking it instead of stores/moving it down and I have unwittingly created the problem of lack of space for brood in the spring.

More likely perhaps that they didn't need fondant anyway? Don't worry - you can always remove some stores (replace with 'drawn' comb) at the crucial moment. Be careful not to remove precious pollen or be prepared to supplement. It's a balancing act for sure and better to let them run with optimum stores and leave them to it, as far as possible. It's often stated that the beekeeping year starts in autumn - easy to see why!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Drawn comb. A very very valuable commodity. I have saved every bit I can. Even drawn super frames can be used in an emergency I should think.