Why fondant instead of syrup and vice versa?

[bigfathairybiker]

Ok, I've asked quite a few people and searched the web and the only answer I can get is fondant in winter, syrup not winter.

But WHY?

If bees take syrup, surely they will take and use it anytime of the year!
Maybe the same answer for fondant.

But really.. WHY?

Mark

 

[Robbo8916]

Its something to do with the temperature, thats as much as I know but then I am new too...

 

[user 6228]

Bees attempt to store the syrup. However, they cant ripen it if the heat losses from the hive are too high, Ripening (desiccating ) nectar or syrup requires a tremendous amount of heat and works best at elevated temperatures.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The bees need to reduce the water in syrup to use it. This us difficult/impossible in winter when it's cold. They also won't take cold syrup from a feeder. Fondant can be given any time.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bees will try and store syrup, and to do so must reduce the water content. In the winter, it's cold and the bees will struggle to do this and will take a heck of a lot of energy, if the water content isn't reduced it could ferment and cause dysentery in the hive, also, if you use feeders such as contact, rapid and the like that go over the hive, in winter it can be cold so they are reluctant to go there. Fondant is the better bet because all they need to do is water it down a bit to eat (much as they do with honey) and it will just sit there until is needed as the bees are less ready to store it (apart from in spring when they can go bonkers with storing it)
Another curve ball (watch the usual suspects start jabbering now ) is the use of invert syrup - a bit more expensive than mixing your own sugar syrup - it's part inverted so a lot of the work is done for the bees, it's water content is a lot lower than 2:1 sugar syrup (the strongest you can mix sugar and water) so less work again to reduce it, but even if they can't it won't ferment, so you can try feeding that to them a lot later in the autumn as long as temperatures haven't plumetted.
Another thing to remember is (although not essential) for autumn stores feeding use 2:1 ratio syrup as there is less water to remove to store) and for immediate feeding spring, summer etc as well as comb drawing then 1:1 is better. Although at a push 2:1 is fine - I've had no problems with them feeding or comb drawing with 2:1 or inverted syrup

 

[Erichalfbee]

A much better reply than mine
I use invert and if I have to make syrup up its always ....... Plastic Jerry can, three quarters fill with sugar, mark level, add hot water to level and shake

 

[bigfathairybiker]

Excellent.

Exactly what I needed to know.

Many many thanks.

Mark

 

[Robbo8916]

Its something to do with the temperature, thats as much as I know but then I am new too...

Do I win for most basic and unhelpful answer?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do I win for most basic and unhelpful answer?

You'll have to work a heck of a lot harder to get that award - we have some on here who have turned giving daft, misleading and unhelpful answers into an art form

 

[Finman]

I have used only syrup. Never fondant. Reason is price and handy to buy.
Easy to pour directly into combs.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

 

[Robbo8916]

 

[Finman]

Learn to laugh for nothing. If you wait a real reason, it would take several years, before you can laugh..

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have used only syrup...............
Easy to pour directly into combs.

That's actually a life saver for a starving hive. It's a good trick to remember

 

[GoEnviro]

I have used only syrup. Never fondant. Reason is price and handy to buy.
Easy to pour directly into combs.

That's interesting Finman - i thought I must just be a lazy lucky fool for not using fondant - we only use honey stores or for new nucs inverted syrup on our hives - if we see a deal on fondant we might pick some up to have ready at hand for use in the winter if things are not looking good - but it never gets as cold here as it does over where you are

 

[BeeJayBee]

- if we see a deal on fondant we might pick some up to have ready at hand for use in the winter if things are not looking good - but it never gets as cold here as it does over where you are

You can always use fondant on cakes, syrup tends to make them a bit soggy.

 

[REDWOOD]

Another good emergency feed if you are out of inverted syrup is to soak a 1kg bag of sugar in a bucket of water, rip the bottom packaging and place over the feed hole. it's worth keeping a bag with you if you have an outer apiary.

 

[chrisb]

You can always use fondant on cakes, syrup tends to make them a bit soggy.

you know you bought to much or bees not taking it, all the Christmas cakes have a 2" thick covering

 

[Finman]

That's interesting Finman - i thought I must just be a lazy lucky fool for not using fondant - we only use honey stores or for new nucs inverted syrup on our hives - if we see a deal on fondant we might pick some up to have ready at hand for use in the winter if things are not looking good - but it never gets as cold here as it does over where you are

Bees invert sugar in their stomack, as they do the sacharose which is in nectar naturally.

Fondant sellers invert only hobby beekeepers' pockets with their superfoods.

I have just taken from almost all hives 5-10 kg / hive winter food that queens have space to lay.

They are selling here German Neopoll. It is 97% sugar and price is 6€/kg + postage. It is same stuff as 0.5 €/kg sugar in Lidl.

Yeah.... Price is 12 fold + postage. But money makes you blessed.
.

 

[chrisb]

6 Euro a Kg for neopoll, wow thats expensive