What is the problem with feeding liquid to bees now?

[kazmcc]

Thanks Hombre, it's just that our bees are still very busy.....so what are they bringing in then? Will they be bringing in some nectar, but not as fully? The syrup we gave them is 2:1. I am going to have a word with the others and refer them here.....see how they feel about not refilling the feeder then.

 

[oliver90owner]

Any nectar brought in at any time (in the normal bottom entrance hive) will have to virtually pass by the brood area.

Bees are not in the habit of double handling materials unnecessarily. Worker larvae require nectar and pollen as food (after three days). There is absolutely no point in taking anything upstairs or converting to honey, if tomorrow they need to fetch water in to feed the larvae.

So only surplus nectar is directed to the honey conversion gang. Also it is used at first point of call because that is the most efficient use of the carriers. Running upstairs and down with a nectar load simply wastes energy.

That is likely another reason why the brood nest moves towards the entrance in congenial weather conditions. There are others - protecting the entrance for instance.

Bees use the KISS principle wherever possible. If beekeepers remember that, they will more easily work out the real needs of the bees.

Regards, RAB

 

[mbc]

Bees are not in the habit of double handling materials unnecessarily

However bees tirelessly exchange food and pheromones around the colony as an integral part of their quite complex communications system out of necessity in keeping cohesion within the super organism which is the bee colony

 

[oliver90owner]

However .......

Oh yeah, but they are still not that stupid as to take things up and down stairs like a yo-yo.

 

[Mike a]

However .......

Oh yeah, but they are still not that stupid as to take things up and down stairs like a yo-yo.

Unless the bee keeper keeps interfering with their organisation of the stores.
(Shame on us)

 

[Poly Hive]

There is a critical reason not mentiond so far.

Drying of syrup is a labour intensive operation and is very hard work for the colony. By making them work at this late stage you are both stressing them and reducing the life span of your worker bees.

Not good.

If you have not fed them enough or are paranoid about how much stores tey have then I suggest two ideas. One is to buy a cheap luggage scale, ehft the hive, times the weight by 2, look on here for empty hive weights and work out roughly how much they have. If less than a min of 40 lbs then feed either fondant or candy.

Other wise please leave the poor things alone.

PH

 

[Silly Bee]

^^^^^
Ageed

 

[Friar Tuck]

If one was worried could one feed back extracted honey at this time of year ?

 

[oliver90owner]

If one was worried could one feed back extracted honey at this time of year ?

It all depends, but is basically too late for any reliable results.

The mistake would have already been made (of not feeding adequately and early enough) and will likely be compounded with this idea. The cells would still need capping and uncapped honey ferments....... So no, leave them alone and feed fondant, as it already appears likely that will be required.

RAB

 

[chipper]

If you are desperately worried get some "Ambrosia " liquid feed and use that .
Its a lot more concentrated than made up sugar syrup and doesnt seem to ferment if left uncapped.