Why do you have fondant on your hives now? And do all your hives have fondant on now?
Do you try to ensure they have fondant available all winter long?
I have never used fondant and just feed mine syrup in the autumn. I can understand why you would feed a hive that was very light on stores, but why feed them all now? (if you are feeding them all)
And are you not concerned that they will end up getting fondant in the honey if you feed now?
I am not implying there is anything wrong with what you do, its just very different to the approach I have come to use, so I am curious.
It was warm in November and I had plenty of bees flying. They may have topped up with ivy, but it seams to me that any granulated stores are the last choice of food, based on my spring inspections, and bring their own issues. I feed syrup in the autumn and usually put a kilo or so on the hives at Christmas, rather than a big slab. I use this as a check to see if this is being taken or not (I know they could be storing it rather than using it, but I'd rather take feed filled frames out at the first inspection than the alternatives. they will get used in nucs). Call it a belt and braces approach - I hate finding failed / starved colonies. Its depressing and I feel in the majority of cases is down to the beekeeper (me) not observing / addressing things at an earlier stage.
Any feed from syrup in the autumn to fondant in the winter / spring could end up in the honey, its about trying to minimise this and balancing when to stop feeding. I tend to remove some old brood frames at first inspection so the stores can be used for drawing out new foundation.
Based on my observations, there was plenty of pollen coming in today, but few if any bees full of nectar. Last thing I want to do is starve a colony at this stage; it is only February and even down in the warm south we are still likely to get cold wet weather for some time to come. At this time I probably wont aim to add any more fondant unless the hives feel light or we get a prolonged period of crappy weather
I suppose i keep bees to the mantra that 'dead bees make no honey'. To me its a substantial hobby that I balance around other commitments, and it (usually) makes a small profit each year. I read with interest one bee farmer mentioning emergency fondant rounds a few weeks ago and that that would do until syrup feeds in March. Totally different situation, aim and location but shows there are many different ways to keep bees. I just try to pick out ideas that I think will work for me, and if they don't, I try a different approach.
hope this satisfies your curiosity ****a
