Invert sugar or not?

[Finman]

I don't take any honey from the brood box and I only feed the bees if they need feeding. There is no point in feeding bees who have a hive full of honey is there?

Nice try again old man, but you need to try harder

good heavens boy! Don't teach duck to swim.

I have studied 5 years biochemistry in university. How much you have?

I cannot win stupids in debating, but I love to poke intellectually hard skin Englishman.
.

 

[Terry G]

21 posts in and I'm none the wiser!

 

[itma]

Read somewhere - can't remember where - that bees prefer ordinary 1:1 at this time of year rather than invert sugar. Is that so?

No.
/ you should be wiser now


But they will prefer 1:1 compared to undiluted Ambrosia if you are asking them to draw comb -- the time of year is not what is relevant here.
Most beekeepers will use simple sugar syrup on cost grounds.

Not sure why you wrote "invert sugar". I'm presuming that we are talking about commercial invert syrup made/sold specifically for bees - as per your post #9.
If not, you'll need to be more specific, and then lots of others can reasonably pile in with their 'invert' points.

Nothing "wrong" with Ambrosia-type invert syrups, but no particular great advantage at this time of the year. At other times of the year, many (but, as you will have noticed, not Finman) do find advantages.


As per my previous post, you may have a problem with the bees understanding and starting to use your feeder.
What type of feeder is it?

 

[farbee]

I have studied 5 years biochemistry in university.

But that does not make you right.

 

[Luminos]

I believe I'm right in saying Winker's not English...

 

[Finman]

I have studied 5 years biochemistry in university.

But that does not make you right.

and you are capable to evalute it. How many years you have studied biochemistry.
Your really think that I only rubbed my arse in university.

But if you want to pay 3-fold cost about ambrosia, 3-fold about hive frames, douple price about polyboxes, i cannot keep wise none of you excetp sellers

if I tell to you that you pay for nothing in beekeeping, your start to bark like street dogs. That is ridiculous.

Beekeeping is not so difficult that after 50 years I am more stupid than all 4-hive owners in this forum.

.

 

[Winker]

I believe I'm right in saying Winker's not English...

 

[Winker]

good heavens boy! Don't teach duck to swim.

I have studied 5 years biochemistry in university. How much you have?

I cannot win stupids in debating, but I love to poke intellectually hard skin Englishman.
.

I did 5 years on Computers and got my Bsc in Applications Development at Dundee University, but every time they come up with a new idea in computing, I don't sit there and tell them they are only a 2 computer owner what do they know.

P.s as its been pointed out above, I'm not English.

 

[itma]

Your really think that I only rubbed my arse in university.

That hadn't occurred to me before, but now that you mention it ...

 

[Terry G]

No.
/ you should be wiser now


But they will prefer 1:1 compared to undiluted Ambrosia if you are asking them to draw comb -- the time of year is not what is relevant here.
Most beekeepers will use simple sugar syrup on cost grounds.

Not sure why you wrote "invert sugar". I'm presuming that we are talking about commercial invert syrup made/sold specifically for bees - as per your post #9.
If not, you'll need to be more specific, and then lots of others can reasonably pile in with their 'invert' points.

Nothing "wrong" with Ambrosia-type invert syrups, but no particular great advantage at this time of the year. At other times of the year, many (but, as you will have noticed, not Finman) do find advantages.


As per my previous post, you may have a problem with the bees understanding and starting to use your feeder.
What type of feeder is it?

It's just a contact feeder. And yes, I did mean invert syrup, not sugar, I'm new to this and not fluent in the terminology. Didn't know I would stir up such a hornets' nest to be honest. Can't wait to ask about winter hive ventilation ;-)

 

[farbee]

How many years you have studied biochemistry.

15 years and 12 published research articles. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

 

[farbee]

if I tell to you that you pay for nothing in beekeeping, your start to bark like street dogs. That is ridiculous.

No I did not say that. All I said is that just because you studied biochemistry (many many year ago I assume) it does not make your opinion correct. Read the post again.

 

[itma]

It's just a contact feeder. And yes, I did mean invert syrup, not sugar, I'm new to this and not fluent in the terminology. Didn't know I would stir up such a hornets' nest to be honest. Can't wait to ask about winter hive ventilation ;-)

Contact feeder might be better above a hole in the coverboard than direct on the frame topbars -- so it can be more freely accessed from more frame-to-frame 'seams'.
And I do think that Ambrosia would be better diluted slightly (2 volumes of Ambrosia to 1 of water?) to make it easier for them to consume.


Yes ventilation and insulation stirs up passions too!

I have the feeling that your package is in a full hive (not a 5 or 6 frame nuc).
And if you have a contact feeder direct on the topbars, then you'll probably have a super employed to give headspace for the feeder --- and that means that you would have a pretty big cold volume for them to set up home in.
Wax drawing needs the bees to get hot (close to 40C), and that is made easier by making their environment warmer. The heat (above ambient) comes only from the bees. Fixed number of bees, smaller volume, better insulated ... hotter, so easier faster wax drawing.

So, I'd suggest
- diluting the syrup a bit
- putting the contact feeder over a cover board hole
- closing off any other coverboard hole
- insulating over and around the feeder (old pillow or blanket?)
plus and its only because the next few days are likely to be particularly cold
- temporarily closing (and draughtproofing) the open mesh floor for a few days
and in any case
- only use a reduced entrance (good idea for most of the year)

I've no idea what quantity of bees you have from your package (so I can't give an opinion), but I'm sure some here that would suggest that "dummying down" onto fewer frames would also be helpful.

In summary, if they are cosy and have access to nectar/thin-syrup then they will draw out some frames and make themselves a home.

Fun isn't it?

 

[Finman]

if I tell to you that you pay for nothing in beekeeping, your start to bark like street dogs. That is ridiculous.

No I did not say that. All I said is that just because you studied biochemistry (many many year ago I assume) it does not make your opinion correct. Read the post again.

houli mouli.
Just like dog of streets.

.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

And in an argument over climate studied Geography

 

[user 6228]

How many years you have studied biochemistry.

15 years and 12 published research articles. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

I see the finman/finski fan club has gained another member 4
it seems you need qualifications to join this club

 

[Finman]

How many years you have studied biochemistry.

15 years and 12 published research articles. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

so you know how sucrose splits to fructose and glucose. That fact has not changed during last 50 years.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I see the finman/finski fan club has gained another member 4
it seems you need qualifications to join this club

I've got O levels in Biology Chemistry and Physics as well as my watchkeeping, yacht skipper, advanced commercial boat handling tickets and my weapons handling trainer certificate does that count?
Oh, and I've got my cycling proficiency badge

 

[Winker]

and my weapons handling trainer certificate does that count?

Snap

 

[Terry G]

I've got O levels in Biology Chemistry and Physics as well as my watchkeeping, yacht skipper, advanced commercial boat handling tickets and my weapons handling trainer certificate does that count?

Crikey, this is getting serious!