Frame of fondant

[Torq]

Instead of eating it, my nuc decided to store a full frame of fondant. So? Peg it in the bin or leave it for them?

 

[REDWOOD]

Don't bin it, the bees will eat it when they need it and is perfectly normal for bees to do this

 

[keith pierce]

what makes you think they have stored it.Mostly all stores at this time of the year will have set and and look a little like fondant.

 

[enrico]

If nothing else, take it out and store it till autumn! Not wishing to sound patronising but are you sure it isn't pollen!
E

 

[oliver90owner]

Anyone noticed what fondant stored as autumn feed looks like? Not, I would suggest, 12% water content!

 

[Torq]

what makes you think they have stored it.Mostly all stores at this time of the year will have set and and look a little like fondant.

Because there is capped honey around the edges of the frames, it runs when you break the capping. Colour, the honey is yellow but the fondant is pure white.

Not wishing to sound patronising but are you sure it isn't pollen!
E

The rate at which the small 3 frame nuc went through the block of fondant, the number of bees present, the presence of capped honey and finally they have capped the fondant.

Very little brood and there is no stored pollen, unlike the hive beside them.

 

[TOBY-3652]

what makes you think they have stored it.Mostly all stores at this time of the year will have set and and look a little like fondant.

i was thinking the same.. i have some that looks like fondant, but it is stores that have set

 

[Torq]

what makes you think they have stored it.Mostly all stores at this time of the year will have set and and look a little like fondant.

Oh, and I forgot to add, a month ago it was an empty drawn frame.

 

[keith pierce]

any chance of a photo. i would be very unusual that they would be wax building in the last month in order to store and cap. i have never seen fondant stored in any quantity. i still have a feeling that what you are seeing is ivy stores and the syrup that you fed them last autumn is the liquid beside it.

 

[Torq]

any chance of a photo. i would be very unusual that they would be wax building in the last month in order to store and cap. i have never seen fondant stored in any quantity. i still have a feeling that what you are seeing is ivy stores and the syrup that you fed them last autumn is the liquid beside it.

Hi Keith,
will do once the rain and wind stops! There honestly were no stores on this frame just over a month ago.

Torq

 

[REDWOOD]

any chance of a photo. i would be very unusual that they would be wax building in the last month in order to store and cap. i have never seen fondant stored in any quantity. i still have a feeling that what you are seeing is ivy stores and the syrup that you fed them last autumn is the liquid beside it.

I put a container of fondant on one of my hives Christmas time and now they have eaten the fondant and built comb in the container and filled it back up with honey which I presume is fondant honey, colourless and tasteless

 

[Torq]

Here's a (well about 1/3)frame of fondant. Remember, this frame was empty before I put the fondant on.

 

[keith pierce]

Hi torq.
Looks exactly like ivy honey. Uncap a spoonful and taste. There should be a strong after taste if its ivy and just a sweet taste if its fondant