Sugar syrup stores

[Curly green finger's]

Hi everyone , in the autumn when im feeding 2:1 syrup I use 4.5kg of sugar which will produce 3.5 kilograms of stored sugar syrup as a guide to know how much to feed each colony.

Scenario. ... two weeks into feeding syrup the weather goes cold stopping syrup feeding.... I add 3kg of fondant to a colony after only feeding 9kg of sugar - 7kg of syrup stores converted , I wanted to feed 12/15 kg of sugar to get the colony upto winter weight.

How do I add the fondant into the equation .
Thoughts pls ...

Fondant 4.5 kg - converted ++kg syrup. Answer don't know , I do know that fondant gets stored though..

 

[For want of a better word]

Hi everyone , in the autumn when im feeding 2:1 syrup I use 4.5kg of sugar which will produce 3.5 kilograms of stored sugar syrup as a guide to know how much to feed each colony.

Scenario. ... two weeks into feeding syrup the weather goes cold stopping syrup feeding.... I add 3kg of fondant to a colony after only feeding 9kg of sugar - 7kg of syrup stores converted , I wanted to feed 12/15 kg of sugar to get the colony upto winter weight.

How do I add the fondant into the equation .
Thoughts pls ...

Fondant 4.5 kg - converted ++kg syrup. Answer don't know , I do know that fondant gets stored though..

Mixing up 2:1 4.5kg of sugar would make about 6.75 liters of syrup.It really does not matter as long as you know how much sugar you fed and the hives are heavy.

My master beekeeper acquaintance says feed until they stop as the bees know how much they want, put fondant on if you wish, the bees will only take what they want.

The cloud is building on the horizon, so batten down those hives.
Glad I put concrete blocks on mine and straps.

 

[Poly Hive]

I have never fed by numbers, ever.

I fed syrup this autumn for the first time in ages to get in some thymol as a bit of an experiment. I fed that until they said no more. Evidence being syrup left in the feeders.

They now have enough until January when I will feed fondant in ekes on top of the top bars whether I think they need it or NOT. It's insurance. What's left over in Spring I melt and use as stimulative feed.

Put your calculator away and feed to the bees needs, not your theories.

PH

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

put fondant on if you wish, the bees will only take what they want.
.

Rubbish - if weather conditions are good, they will store that as well

 

[enrico]

Oh dear, feeding really isn't easy. It is all a bit hit and miss as we will never be able to predict the weather. Weekly checks by hefting or weighing are by far the best method.feed in the autumn until really heavy and don't add fondant until really light is the best attitude.
Fondant really should be a last ditch thing in early spring to carry them through a wet and cold winter or spring unless you feed fondant all the time. They will store whatever you give them if you let them! And then they will add it to your spring honey
E

 

[drex]

My master beekeeper acquaintance says feed until they stop as the bees know how much they want, put fondant on if you wish, the bees will only take what they want.
.

I do not feed my bees as a routine, preferring to leave them enough of their own honey. This is my hobby, not my livelihood. So, if the bees know how much they want, why do they collect the excess that I harvest?? ??
I learn a lot from other beekeepers, but there is so much folklore about, that I still think things through for myself

 

[Murox]

Even though I leave honey in the hive I feed heavy syrup with thymol until.......they stop....if they really do. (Doesn't often get below 0 degrees here and more usually its around 7-9 degrees, We just get wind and horizontal rain mostly.) If they stop taking it because of a 'cold snap' I find they start again as soon as it warms up a little. Mid November I checked a feeder, it was full, the weather turned worse for a while, a few days ago I went to vaporise and I checked the feeder (thinking to remove it) to discover it was empty, they had been on it during a few warmer days. This prompted me to check their stores they have plenty. I shall check again during January.

 

[For want of a better word]

Even though I leave honey in the hive I feed heavy syrup with thymol until.......they stop....if they really do. (Doesn't often get below 0 degrees here and more usually its around 7-9 degrees, We just get wind and horizontal rain mostly.) If they stop taking it because of a 'cold snap' I find they start again as soon as it warms up a little. Mid November I checked a feeder, it was full, the weather turned worse for a while, a few days ago I went to vaporise and I checked the feeder (thinking to remove it) to discover it was empty, they had been on it during a few warmer days. This prompted me to check their stores they have plenty. I shall check again during January.

There you go
The bees do nothing invariably.
Describing another beekeepers opinion as rubbish is crass
Far too many variables

 

[Nige.Coll]

Problems with that blanket statement.
Bees are greedy little beggars. They will take all the food they can if it is there to a point they become honey bound.

Over feeding in autumn followed by the Ivy flow after the beekeeper has reduced the colony in most cases to a box that isn't big enough for the bees in the first place leads to problems.

Following that mantra which has been pandered around for years is neither correct or good management.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Describing another beekeepers opinion as rubbish is crass

Not when the 'opinion' is just wrong and is based on a fallacy
more I listen to your ramblings and your immaginary 'master beekeeper' pal, the more I suspect we are being trolled.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The thing is that completely inaccurate advice needs to be corrected, especially if it’s for beginners. This isn’t a certain group on Facebook where describing such as “rubbish” gets you banned. So as long as it’s just the ball that gets kicked

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So as long as it’s just the ball that gets kicked

depends whose balls...

 

[Murox]

depends whose balls...

Since 2013 "Being an incorrigible rogue" is no longer a criminal offence in England and Wales.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I have never fed by numbers, ever.

I fed syrup this autumn for the first time in ages to get in some thymol as a bit of an experiment. I fed that until they said no more. Evidence being syrup left in the feeders.

They now have enough until January when I will feed fondant in ekes on top of the top bars whether I think they need it or NOT. It's insurance. What's left over in Spring I melt and use as stimulative feed.

Put your calculator away and feed to the bees needs, not your theories.

PH

I'll keep my calculator in my pocket it's helping to not over feed colony's.

My theories Pete.? Fondant being stored?

 

[Curly green finger's]

I have never fed by numbers, ever.

I fed syrup this autumn for the first time in ages to get in some thymol as a bit of an experiment. I fed that until they said no more. Evidence being syrup left in the feeders.

They now have enough until January when I will feed fondant in ekes on top of the top bars whether I think they need it or NOT. It's insurance. What's left over in Spring I melt and use as stimulative feed.

Put your calculator away and feed to the bees needs, not your theories.

PH

depends whose balls...

Funny that

 

[For want of a better word]

The thing is that completely inaccurate advice needs to be corrected, especially if it’s for beginners. This isn’t a certain group on Facebook where describing such as “rubbish” gets you banned. So as long as it’s just the ball that gets kicked

Problem for beginners is that even the revered tomes on beekeeping give conflicting advice.
Then because one questions conflicting advice given here you get accused of being a troll.
Have I fed my bees enough to give the girls enough stores to get them through the winter to Spring?

 

[Finman]

Hi everyone , in the autumn when im feeding 2:1 syrup I use 4.5kg of sugar which will produce 3.5 kilograms of stored sugar syrup as a guide to know how much to feed each colony.

Scenario. ... two weeks into feeding syrup the weather goes cold stopping syrup feeding.... I add 3kg of fondant to a colony after only feeding 9kg of sugar - 7kg of syrup stores converted , I wanted to feed 12/15 kg of sugar to get the colony upto winter weight.

How do I add the fondant into the equation .
Thoughts pls ...

Fondant 4.5 kg - converted ++kg syrup. Answer don't know , I do know that fondant gets stored though..

Feed the hive full of syrup and there it is. Those calculations make no sense.
.
Your 4.5 kg sugar took 2 weeks to feed. It is 5 litre syrup. Normally that feeding takes 12 hours..
A hive consumes it in autumn in two months.

 

[Poly Hive]

I have never seen fondant stored but that's not to say they don't where it's said they do.

As for fondant being last resort well possibly in the balmy south but up here in a more robust climate it is highly sensible and wise to do so.

The NOSCA beekeeping unit was advising blocks of candy back in the 1900's.

PH

 

[For want of a better word]

Feed the hive full of syrup and there it is. Those calculations make no sense.
.
Your 4.5 kg sugar took 2 weeks to feed. It is 5 litre syrup. Normally that feeding takes 12 hours..
.

hyvä vastaus pikku lunta Farie

 

[Erichalfbee]

Have I fed my bees enough to give the girls enough stores to get them through the winter to Spring?

That’s easy weigh them.
Luggage scales. Lift each side a cm it two and add together.
40lbs ( autumn, so make an adjustment of a few pounds for now)
Bees 5lb
Weigh your spare kit to approximate the empty hive
Polycarbonate crown is useful too. Look through the top with a torch. If you can see capped stores they are fine.