NBU Starvation alert

[alldigging]

From email, in case you've missed it.

Beekeepers may wish to monitor their colony food levels closely over the next month as many colonies, particularly those which are strong and had their spring honey crop removed, will be at risk of starving. In some parts of the UK, the weather is still cold and foraging opportunities for large colonies are few and far between. It is important to check and monitor all your colonies feed levels, if you do not wish to open them up because of poor weather, lift below the floor, in turn, on both sides of the hive to see how much it weighs. Where the hive is light, liquid feed should be applied directly above the bees. Feed can be prepared from refined white sugar and water mixed at a 2:1 ratio or one of the proprietary ready mixed syrups available from Beekeeping equipment suppliers. More information about mixing up sugar can be found in the Best Practice Guidelines no. 7 http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167

Large starving colonies of bees will take 1 gallon (approx. 5 Litres) of syrup very quickly while smaller colonies will take half a gallon (approx. 2.5 Litres). After feeding, heft the hives again and check the weight and if in doubt feed some more in a few days.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Heavens...the NBU is on the ball

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's a week later than last year's automated warning - must be a glitch in their system

 

[pargyle]

Heavens...the NBU is on the ball

Off the wall more like ....

 

[Gilberdyke John]

From email, in case you've missed it.

Beekeepers may wish to monitor their colony food levels closely over the next month as many colonies, particularly those which are strong and had their spring honey crop removed, will be at risk of starving. In some parts of the UK, the weather is still cold and foraging opportunities for large colonies are few and far between. It is important to check and monitor all your colonies feed levels, if you do not wish to open them up because of poor weather, lift below the floor, in turn, on both sides of the hive to see how much it weighs. Where the hive is light, liquid feed should be applied directly above the bees. Feed can be prepared from refined white sugar and water mixed at a 2:1 ratio or one of the proprietary ready mixed syrups available from Beekeeping equipment suppliers. More information about mixing up sugar can be found in the Best Practice Guidelines no. 7 http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167

Large starving colonies of bees will take 1 gallon (approx. 5 Litres) of syrup very quickly while smaller colonies will take half a gallon (approx. 2.5 Litres). After feeding, heft the hives again and check the weight and if in doubt feed some more in a few days.

Masters of stating the bleeding obvious

 

[Karsal]

Should it not read thin syrup 1:1 ratio?

2:1 is usually for winter stores

 

[Millet]

I'm ok but surely it is good advice for some new folk in certain areas of the country, much better than newbies bees starving to death for sure.

 

[madasafish]

I'm ok but surely it is good advice for some new folk in certain areas of the country, much better than newbies bees starving to death for sure.

I agree. The number of people who are new with swarms and no idea is alarming..

You will note in "what did you do in the apiary today#", some mention of feeding well prior to this warning...

# I still find it essential reading after six years.

 

[dpearce4]

Well I for one have been telling my RBI that I have been feeding for over a week due to lack of stores and that's without taking off a spring crop as there wasn't one.

 

[TMargo]

Should it not read thin syrup 1:1 ratio?

2:1 is usually for winter stores

I wondered about that. I'm a newbie, when I inspected on Monday evening I saw that the bees didn't seem to have much in the way of stores so I went home, made some 1:1 syrup and gave them a feed on Tuesday morning, then today I saw this and wondered whether I should have made a different mix.

How much would you give them? (or to put it another way, how quick "very quickly" hours? days? a week?

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

As I said on WDYDITAT, I am glad I took no spring honey. This year looks more and more like a writeoff with lime and bramble both open under the rain. I am concentrating on stocks and getting set up for next year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chrisb]

I wondered about that. I'm a newbie, when I inspected on Monday evening I saw that the bees didn't seem to have much in the way of stores so I went home, made some 1:1 syrup and gave them a feed on Tuesday morning, then today I saw this and wondered whether I should have made a different mix.

How much would you give them? (or to put it another way, how quick "very quickly" hours? days? a week?

1:1 is usually used straight away by them 2:1 usually ends up getting stored.
so 1:1 is correct 2:1 you would use to build up stores for wintering

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

1:1 is usually used straight away by them 2:1 usually ends up getting stored.
so 1:1 is correct 2:1 you would use to build up stores for wintering

they make the same mistake every year - but then again, wonder when the last time anyone ever checked the email they automaticall send out at this time of year regardless of weather

 

[mbc]

they make the same mistake every year - but then again, wonder when the last time anyone ever checked the email they automaticall send out at this time of year regardless of weather

Not sure it is a mistake, I for one only do thick syrup, lots of hives and carrying around thin syrup means carrying around twice as much feed for lots of hives#more fuel and space

 

[Fatbee]

Perhaps the answer is to split the difference and go for 1.5:1! I never worry too much, if it gets that close to starvation any sugar is better than none

 

[wessexmario]

wouldn't better advice have been not to deplete hives of so much stores in the first place?

 

[Stiffy]

I'm ok but surely it is good advice for some new folk in certain areas of the country, much better than newbies bees starving to death for sure.

Not only newbies, I had a nuc nearly starve couple of weeks ago. Luckily I caught it in time!!

 

[alldigging]

wouldn't better advice have been not to deplete hives of so much stores in the first place?

That would be education not advice.

You would need a time machine to give that sort of advice successfully.

 

[Millet]

wouldn't better advice have been not to deplete hives of so much stores in the first place?

From what i have been reading a lot of folk have had no stores to deplete from there supers.

 

[wessexmario]

That would be education not advice.
You would need a time machine to give that sort of advice successfully.

I didn't mean retrospective advice; but that the presumption should be that there will be gaps in the year and not to harvest all the stores in the first place.