Open feeding honey to bees!?

[Mint Bee]

longest routine job inspecting the hive is the occasional full frame disease inspection - maybe 3 / 4 minutes per box tops. If you need to put syrup out to distract local bees including your own then you are creating a contact point for transmissible disease, not to mention the syrup going in to supers. How many hives does Bee base state are in the vacinity ? Then add unregistered and feral colonies?

Not intelligent beekeeping

 

[Penninetrader]

longest routine job inspecting the hive is the occasional full frame disease inspection - maybe 3 / 4 minutes per box tops. If you need to put syrup out to distract local bees including your own then you are creating a contact point for transmissible disease, not to mention the syrup going in to supers. How many hives does Bee base state are in the vacinity ? Then add unregistered and feral colonies?

Not intelligent beekeeping

Did not say inspecting, it might be best to take the time to appreciate what is being said. The thought that you as an individual beekeeper can control the contacts your forager bees are making is beyond ridiculous. Do you believe your girls are above being involved in robbing in concert with other tribes. You must have tracking devices on them all. I will leave others to consider these views

 

[ericbeaumont]

breaking down a hive and having a good sort out

Safer during a flow, when you will be ignored.

 

[Penninetrader]

Safer during a flow, when you will be ignored.

Exactly, my tactic is a means of distraction. It works for me but I do not propose to tell others they should follow my example. We each should know our particular environment and act accordingly

 

[pargyle]

Exactly, my tactic is a means of distraction. It works for me but I do not propose to tell others they should follow my example. We each should know our particular environment and act accordingly

Wherever you are and whatever the circumstances (and I reocgnise your right to do what you wish - they are, mostly, your bees) open feeding of ANY sort - syrup in a bowl of pebbles, frames left out to clear, open feeding within an apiary, is one of the worst ideas anyone can have ... there can be no good reason for it under any circumstances. Certainly, in an area where there are other beekeepers colonies it is downright irresponsible - bees from feral colonies with varroa and let alone keepers with no idea of the level of mites in their colonies will all congregate along with bees from colonies that do not have heavy mite loads. Providing the means for such a party is antisocial !

I accept that you cannot control where your bees will forage - but - providing a focal point for every bee in the area ? You can control that ... and not do it.

 

[Penninetrader]

This isn

Wherever you are and whatever the circumstances (and I reocgnise your right to do what you wish - they are, mostly, your bees) open feeding of ANY sort - syrup in a bowl of pebbles, frames left out to clear, open feeding within an apiary, is one of the worst ideas anyone can have ... there can be no good reason for it under any circumstances. Certainly, in an area where there are other beekeepers colonies it is downright irresponsible - bees from feral colonies with varroa and let alone keepers with no idea of the level of mites in their colonies will all congregate along with bees from colonies that do not have heavy mite loads. Providing the means for such a party is antisocial !

I accept that you cannot control where your bees will forage - but - providing a focal point for every bee in the area ? You can control that ... and not do it

 

[Penninetrader]

I

This isn

I am not running a Cafe for bees. So should I let the robbers who include those I describe just have a free for all at mine and my girls expense, not happening. I have had a hive robbed out this year and even though I tried non of the robbers would provide their names and addresses, even though I caught them in the act. I suspect most on here will not have the first clue what takes.place in their absense, especially those with out apiaries. My observation is that the bees are the primary robbers and destroyers of other colonies and wasps secondary. They get caught in the cookie jar as they tend to work long past the bees home time. Oh yes, the bumbles had a feed as well. Other than vaping what other measures do you all take to reduce mite numbers and improve resistance.

 

[pargyle]

I

I am not running a Cafe for bees. So should I let the robbers who include those I describe just have a free for all at mine and my girls expense, not happening. I have had a hive robbed out this year and even though I tried non of the robbers would provide their names and addresses, even though I caught them in the act. I suspect most on here will not have the first clue what takes.place in their absense, especially those with out apiaries. My observation is that the bees are the primary robbers and destroyers of other colonies and wasps secondary. They get caught in the cookie jar as they tend to work long past the bees home time. Oh yes, the bumbles had a feed as well. Other than vaping what other measures do you all take to reduce mite numbers and improve resistance.

I don't think you are understanding the risks ... bees have an incredible sense of smell - estimated at 50 times that of a dog ! They can detect smells at just a few parts per TRILLION ! What you are doing is not just keeping bees away from getting to your apiary - you are ATTRACTING bees from miles around. If they then sense there is a colony in the vicinity that could be robbed ... well, you are giving them the opportunity and the location. Disease and parasites being passed on is the least of your worries ...

 

[Penninetrader]

I don't think you are understanding the risks ... bees have an incredible sense of smell - estimated at 50 times that of a dog ! They can detect smells at just a few parts per TRILLION ! What you are doing is not just keeping bees away from getting to your apiary - you are ATTRACTING bees from miles around. If they then sense there is a colony in the vicinity that could be robbed ... well, you are giving them the opportunity and the location. Disease and parasites being passed on is the least of your worries ...

All very true. If you think that one out, you yourself will realise how every Beek contributes to sending out those smells providing locations. We are delighted at that when a swarm is attracted our way due to those very same smells. Sensibly we try to isolate them and essentially starve them once arriving in our effort to reduce disease spread, but there are limits. The robbed colony in my apiary was I suppose predictable and the reasons for which would not happen to my other girls.I will be very interested as to what measures others take to limit Varroa and improve resistance other than chemical treatments.

 

[Mint Bee]

All very true. If you think that one out, you yourself will realise how every Beek contributes to sending out those smells providing locations. We are delighted at that when a swarm is attracted our way due to those very same smells. Sensibly we try to isolate them and essentially starve them once arriving in our effort to reduce disease spread, but there are limits. The robbed colony in my apiary was I suppose predictable and the reasons for which would not happen to my other girls.I will be very interested as to what measures others take to limit Varroa and improve resistance other than chemical treatments.

somewhere a village is missing its idiot

 

[enrico]

A local beek put a frame to one side and forgot it. Within an hour complaints were coming in from everywhere . My garden was full of bees looking for something, they were in my garage and house, the air was full of flying bees. I went my neighbour to see if he was having the same problem and that is when he remembered the frame in his shed. His shed was surrounded by bees searching for the entrance. The shed itself was full of bees. The offending frame was removed and put somewhere safe. It took a good thirty minutes for the bees to cease looking.
I have had hives robbed out but never had this frenzy of bees looking for free food.
Just thought I would mention it

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

somewhere a village is missing its *****

I'm sure they'll find him again pretty soon

 

[Penninetrader]

somewhere a village is missing its *****

Not my village,I am home

 

[Penninetrader]

A local beek put a frame to one side and forgot it. Within an hour complaints were coming in from everywhere . My garden was full of bees looking for something, they were in my garage and house, the air was full of flying bees. I went my neighbour to see if he was having the same problem and that is when he remembered the frame in his shed. His shed was surrounded by bees searching for the entrance. The shed itself was full of bees. The offending frame was removed and put somewhere safe. It took a good thirty minutes for the bees to cease looking.
I have had hives robbed out but never had this frenzy of bees looking for free food.
Just thought I would mention it

Get some of your mates honey it will make terrific swarm lure matrrial.

 

[Sutty]

Get some of your mates honey it will make terrific swarm lure matrrial.

I don't believe honey is a swarm attractant, although it clearly is a bee attractant.

 

[Sutty]

A local beek put a frame to one side and forgot it. Within an hour complaints were coming in from everywhere . My garden was full of bees looking for something, they were in my garage and house, the air was full of flying bees. I went my neighbour to see if he was having the same problem and that is when he remembered the frame in his shed. His shed was surrounded by bees searching for the entrance. The shed itself was full of bees. The offending frame was removed and put somewhere safe. It took a good thirty minutes for the bees to cease looking.
I have had hives robbed out but never had this frenzy of bees looking for free food.
Just thought I would mention it

I think there is a big difference between honey and syrup in bee attraction and "findability".
I have to confess to having once resorted to open feeding a long time ago. I had several hives on the verge of starvation, it was cold enough that they wouldn't take syrup in feeders on the hives, but were trying (unsuccessful) to forage. I had no fondant.
I set up a chicken drinker full of syrup with the reservoir full of pebbles to prevent drowning about 15m from the hives. It was found in a few hours and there was a steady stream of feeding bees, but not crowding or fighting, back to the hives. There were also no flight lines other than back to my hives, so I wasn't feeding other colonies. I let the syrup run out so their source slowly stopped providing (like a nectar source).
By comparison any spilt honey attracts bees in minutes! It may be a scent difference.

 

[Penninetrader]

I don't believe honey is a swarm attractant, although it clearly is a bee attractant.

No worries Sutty it was just humor.

 

[Penninetrader]

A local beek put a frame to one side and forgot it. Within an hour complaints were coming in from everywhere . My garden was full of bees looking for something, they were in my garage and house, the air was full of flying bees. I went my neighbour to see if he was having the same problem and that is when he remembered the frame in his shed. His shed was surrounded by bees searching for the entrance. The shed itself was full of bees. The offending frame was removed and put somewhere safe. It took a good thirty minutes for the bees to cease looking.
I have had hives robbed out but never had this frenzy of bees looking for free food.
Just thought I would mention it

It may have been that it was undefended so up for grabs, sort of like looting. All sorts of factors contribute to differing reactions.

 

[Penninetrader]

I think there is a big difference between honey and syrup in bee attraction and "findability".
I have to confess to having once resorted to open feeding a long time ago. I had several hives on the verge of starvation, it was cold enough that they wouldn't take syrup in feeders on the hives, but were trying (unsuccessful) to forage. I had no fondant.
I set up a chicken drinker full of syrup with the reservoir full of pebbles to prevent drowning about 15m from the hives. It was found in a few hours and there was a steady stream of feeding bees, but not crowding or fighting, back to the hives. There were also no flight lines other than back to my hives, so I wasn't feeding other colonies. I let the syrup run out so their source slowly stopped providing (like a nectar source).
By comparison any spilt honey attracts bees in minutes! It may be a scent difference.

On discussing this thread with my good lady her response was, the moment you lift those lids wasps appear out of nowhere within minutes. And I said probably bees as well but we just don't notice as they look just like the residents. In most cases.

 

[Sutty]

I think mine was in pre-wasp season