Tremyfro
Queen Bee
- Joined
- May 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,434
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Hive Type
- Beehaus
- Number of Hives
- Possibly...5 and a bit...depends on the bees.
A few weeks ago I made up some syrup....I had so many interruptions that in the end I was unsure of the amount of water I had added. Anyway, all the sugar dissolved. So I used it in 2 of the hives. One had a frame feeder and the other had a rapid feeder.
Today, we were going around all the colonies to check weights and feed or not as required.
When we got to the hive with the frame feeder....there was a moderate amount of crystallised syrup in the feeder...the bees were feeding on it and all the liquid syrup had gone.
In the hive with the rapid feeder...we were surprised to see that they hadn't taken down the syrup. The hive was a little lighter than required. We almost left it...determining to check again next week. Then I remembered that it had been full before I went on holiday...so we had left it.
Very curious! So we took a much closer look and realised the syrup had formed a thick layer of crystals around the base of the cup. The bees were in there but couldn't access the liquid syrup. DUH!!!
We took it off...emptied it and poured hot water into the feeder to dissolve the sugar. Then it was replaced and refilled...this time with the right solution.
Hopefully, all will be well and we can top up as soon as they have taken it down.
I have read before about bees not taking the syrup....perhaps other beekeepers make the mistake of making the syrup too strong...so it crystallises. Or, of course, it might just be me!!!
A good lesson learnt...pay attention when making syrup!
Today, we were going around all the colonies to check weights and feed or not as required.
When we got to the hive with the frame feeder....there was a moderate amount of crystallised syrup in the feeder...the bees were feeding on it and all the liquid syrup had gone.
In the hive with the rapid feeder...we were surprised to see that they hadn't taken down the syrup. The hive was a little lighter than required. We almost left it...determining to check again next week. Then I remembered that it had been full before I went on holiday...so we had left it.
Very curious! So we took a much closer look and realised the syrup had formed a thick layer of crystals around the base of the cup. The bees were in there but couldn't access the liquid syrup. DUH!!!
We took it off...emptied it and poured hot water into the feeder to dissolve the sugar. Then it was replaced and refilled...this time with the right solution.
Hopefully, all will be well and we can top up as soon as they have taken it down.
I have read before about bees not taking the syrup....perhaps other beekeepers make the mistake of making the syrup too strong...so it crystallises. Or, of course, it might just be me!!!
A good lesson learnt...pay attention when making syrup!