Too early for syrup?

[Cuckmere couple]

i have defrosted two full brood frames of stores and was going to add this immediately to the left of the cluster (removing a, empty frame) and add fondant above nest but over crown board

does this sound ok?

 

[Beefriendly]

No, you want your fondant on top of the frames directly above the bees. They can be reluctant to come up through a hole in the crown board if it gets seriously cold.
Use an empty super at a pinch if you don't have an eke.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok thanks BF

think i need to get some ekes as the space a super leaves is large

ive got a super above crown board with insulation in it

 

[Beefriendly]

think i need to get some ekes as the space a super leaves is large

Bees don't seem to care too much in my experience, particularly if poly supers. It's the cluster they are keeping warm, not the hive.
But if it worries you, add some insulation, like bubble wrap over the fondant in the super.
I've been meaning to make poly ekes for the last few years but never got round to it. So still using empty supers with no added insulation above a block of fondant apart from a poly crown board and poly roof....

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i have some thick celotex in super (wooden hives) with a square cut out for fondant block

would this be able to sit direct on frames within super....probably not as it would cut out the space for bees to move above frames

 

[Millet]

BF.. I make ekes out of roofing laths that i get for free...they are around 2in deep and ideal for using take away tubs or fondant blocks in grease proof paper...if you want some making i can knock you a pile up in no time..

 

[Beefriendly]

i have some thick celotex in super (wooden hives) with a square cut out for fondant block

would this be able to sit direct on frames within super....probably not as it would cut out the space for bees to move above frames

????? You want an empty super, not one with frames in. Cut your cellotex or whatever and push it down like a lid. As I say you really don't need it and it's much easier to keep an eye on how much they are munching through.

 

[Beefriendly]

BF.. I make ekes out of roofing laths that i get for free...they are around 2in deep and ideal for using take away tubs or fondant blocks in grease proof paper...if you want some making i can knock you a pile up in no time..

Appreciated Steve. But quite happy using supers. I'm looking at cutting some of the Abelo Supers into Poly ekes at some time. Don't want to add wood at the top of nicely insulated poly hive if you get my drift.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

sorry, i meant the frames in their brood box...they need to move across frames at top so cellotex cant be flush with their brood frames

ill have a look anyway

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Would your advice be then to feed syrup?

depends how you are going to feed it, the danger in using a top feeder (rapid feeder, miller etc) is that it is outside the hive/cluster and bees won't go up to it as it is too cold.
Frame feeders work throughout the year and the hive is only open for seconds to top it up.especially good for nucs (one of the pro's of the Payne's side feeder nucs)

best advice would be to feed properly in the autumn so they don't need topping up, if they do, fondant is always the easiest and safest method.

As for the forum imbecile's 'advice' cutting and pasting something you've read on the forum isn't advice.
Putting syrup in a frame of drawn comb is a very good way of urgent emergency feeding when you discover a colony on the verge of starvation, usually late spring or in a sudden forage gap but to advise it at this time of year is just sheer stupidity and just demonstrates the poster's ignorance and eagerness just to post for the sake of it.

 

[Beefriendly]

If it helps here's a picture of one I set up yesterday. Needless to say I cut a large rectangle off the bottom of the polythene bag before putting it on the bees. Within a few days they will have eaten enough that they can move freely across the top of the brood frames.

 

[Millet]

depends how you are going to feed it, the danger in using a top feeder (rapid feeder, miller etc) is that it is outside the hive/cluster and bees won't go up to it as it is too cold.
Frame feeders work throughout the year and the hive is only open for seconds to top it up.especially good for nucs (one of the pro's of the Payne's side feeder nucs)

best advice would be to feed properly in the autumn so they don't need topping up, if they do, fondant is always the easiest and safest method.

As for the forum imbecile's 'advice' cutting and pasting something you've read on the forum isn't advice.
Putting syrup in a frame of drawn comb is a very good way of urgent emergency feeding when you discover a colony on the verge of starvation, usually late spring or in a sudden forage gap but to advise it at this time of year is just sheer stupidity and just demonstrates the poster's ignorance and eagerness just to post for the sake of it.

I had to do such a thing one year to a colony that was robbed to the point of starvation rather quickly..it was in Autumn not winter... now spread the Love..

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok BF and others

just done this...happy to have shortcoming pointed out (i wont take offence!)

basically i cut a hole in cellotex for the fondant and a lid for it to view how much being taken etc

rather than sit cellotex directly onto frames i put a couple of frame sides as spacers and sat the cellotex on this, then added a super surround and crown board

they may propolise the spacers i guess but didnt want to leave the whole block of cellotex direct on tops of frames

 

[Millet]

ok BF and others

just done this...happy to have shortcoming pointed out (i wont take offence!)

basically i cut a hole in cellotex for the fondant and a lid for it to view how much being taken etc

rather than sit cellotex directly onto frames i put a couple of frame sides as spacers and sat the cellotex on this, then added a super surround and crown board

they may propolise the spacers i guess but didnt want to leave the whole block of cellotex direct on tops of frames

It will work but you need to tape the exposed edges of the celotex.. if you don't the bees will chew it to bits...also it would have been better if the slab was a bit bigger to fit inside a super nice and snug.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks Millet

 

[beebopper]

I have run out of fondant. Could I start to feed syrup now?

Temp is about 13 oC.

 

[Poly Hive]

Really? Its +2C here with snow showers so I am off to top up at least two that I know of are out of fondant and check the others.

If your forecast is saying temps like that for the next week then yes. But before you do why do you want to?

PH

 

[beebopper]

Really? Its +2C here with snow showers so I am off to top up at least two that I know of are out of fondant and check the others.

If your forecast is saying temps like that for the next week then yes. But before you do why do you want to?

PH

Thanks for info.

If its any consolation about temperatures I would change locations with you in a heartbeat if I could move my job and kids schools.

Ed
To answer you question I just don't want to buy any more fondant if I don't have to.

 

[Murox]

Buy the fondant - it keeps for yonks - even if you have some left on the hive you can just melt it in some water and use as a syrup. No waste.

 

[Poly Hive]

I have just finished a block I bought err..... lets say some years ago and it's been scoffed. Bees are thriving. Hmm.... aged in the bag fondant to improve your stocks.. could be a winner....LOL

PH