Syrup

[Thymallus]

Same here, even in the rain they are working flat out.

It's lovely sight seeing them working so hard, frantic is the word that comes to mind. Even nicer opening the top of the hives and being wafted by that warm moist aroma of heather honey filling the supers.

 

[Millet]

I don't mind making up syrup and i don't mind buying a food product in.. would Candipollen Gold be ok for bee's to stock up there winter stores or is 2-1 syrup better..
At this current time i have a 2kg pack of candipollen on top of the crown board what i put in several week's ago when they got very low on food stores..(just after i put it in the weather got better) so the bee's have eaten less than half of it and they is still load's of forage for them to go at so that maybe why they have not eaten much..

Would it be a good idea just to keep an eye on what food i have in there and when it start's disappearing simply just top it up with whatever is the best for them..
Thank's
Steve.

 

[B+.]

I is 2-1 syrup better...

I used Ambrosia in all my colonies last year and, despite the claims to the contrary, it fermented. I won't be using it again in a hurry unless I absolutely have to.
There is also evidence to suggest that HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) is harmful to bees.
There is a useful summary of syrup here https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeeping/Recipes_for_the_Bees

 

[Thymallus]

It's more important to make sure the queen still has room to lay all her "winter bees". You can overfill with stores by overfeeding at this time of the year and end up with very weak colonies going through the winter period.
I think you should use what you think is the best for you your conscience and your pocket. Sugar works for me every time.
I haven't ever used supplements and don't seem to have suffered any problems. The people who use supplements say the same.
Draw your own conclusions.

 

[theeggman]

We just use 2 to 1 with Hivemaker's thymol mix added.

The bees take it and store it and the last 3 year's nosema tests have come back clear, may just be a coincidence of course, but I'm sticking with it.

But it's going to be a week or four before I start thinking of feeding.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'm happy to feed production colonies Ambrosia

I used Ambrosia in all my colonies last year and, despite the claims to the contrary, it fermented. I won't be using it again in a hurry

You seem very uncertain.

 

[B+.]

You seem very uncertain.

No. I remembered what happened last year and corrected what I said

 

[Hivemaker.]

No. I remembered what happened last year and corrected what I said

I won't be using it again in a hurry unless I absolutely have to.

Under what circumstances would you absolutely have to feed Ambrosia when you did not want to.

 

[B+.]

Under what circumstances would you absolutely have to feed Ambrosia when you did not want to.

huh? What are you getting at?
In the normal course of events I wouldn't choose to use it again (because it fermented). However, things can happen in life that force you into doing things you wouldn't choose to do (I'd be amazed if this has never happened to you too). They're not ideal but you have to do them anyway.

 

[Hivemaker.]

(I'd be amazed if this has never happened to you too).

No, never, i can honestly say that no one has ever forced me to feed Ambrosia.

 

[B+.]

No, never, i can honestly say that no one has ever forced me to feed Ambrosia.

Thats not what I meant.
I meant that sometimes other things force you to make sub-optimal decisions with regard to your bees

 

[Hivemaker.]

Thats not what I meant.

It is what i meant, i am talking about feeding Ambrosia, and the reasons why you would have to use it, just that i cannot think of a reason why you would have to.

 

[The Drone Ranger]

Hi
The 2 to 1 was 2 pounds sugar to 1 pint water
When you scale that up to kg and ltrs its 2kg sugar to 1.2 ltr water approx

 

[beebot]

It is what i meant, i am talking about feeding Ambrosia, and the reasons why you would have to use it, just that i cannot think of a reason why you would have to.

What about if you had a burst pipe (thus not have water supply) and could not get it fixed quickly so easier to buy pre-made stuff. Unlikely but possible

 

[Hivemaker.]

What about if you had a burst pipe (thus not have water supply) and could not get it fixed quickly so easier to buy pre-made stuff. Unlikely but possible

A burst pipe on what?

Ah, see you edited your post, would not be a problem, plenty of water in the river, not likely to have a burst pipe and no water supply for a month or so anyway.

 

[B+.]

When you scale that up to kg and ltrs its 2kg sugar to 1.2 ltr water approx

The ratio is the same (2:1) but I am using metric rather than imperial units. When I record the amount of sugar fed in BeeBreed, its in Kg (so my data has to be consistent).

 

[Finman]

.
You may do so, that put Sugar into some pot. Then pour boiling water into the Sugar so, that solution level is same as was Sugar level. Then you get 1:2 solution. Stir and Sugar melts easily .

 

[BeeJayBee]

You may do so, that put Sugar into some pot. Then pour boiling water into the Sugar so, that solution level is same as was Sugar level. Then you get 1:2 solution. Stir and Sugar melts easily .

The stuff is easy enough to make, and this works as well as any method. Best to mark the container though, in case their isn't enough water in the kettle or saucepan and it has to be topped up.

Some associations don't seem to teach beginners how to make syrup, but they do sell them containers of ambrosia, which I think is a pity because it makes the new beekeeper dependent on an expensive commercial product.

 

[Marton]

The ratio is the same (2:1) but I am using metric rather than imperial units. When I record the amount of sugar fed in BeeBreed, its in Kg (so my data has to be consistent).

It's not the same with imperial pints as these are 20oz ie 1lb 4oz.

It is 2:1 in U.S. Pints as these are 1lb.


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[Finman]

.
What is the Sugar content of Ambrosia? And cost to pick it up from some place.

I buy Sugar from Lidl when I go to buy food stuff.

I have few bees with Sugar 52 years. And hundreds of swarms, emergency feedin in spring, and what ever.

Secret of quality is pollen.
But in early years of my beekeepingmany hives had only Sugar. They did OK 8 months with Sugar. ... But but, bees really need natural pollen before Winter to live that long difficult period.

But Sugar itself in beekeeping is the most easy Job.

Mix Sugar and water....wow!

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