winter stores and granulation

[RoseCottage]

Just a quick question really...

When I visited the girls to do their OA treatment a couple of weeks ago I noticed that their sugar syrup stores seemed granulated. Is this normal? Do they deal with this ok considering they are not going out for water? They certainly seemed to have lots of food - almost as much as when they started winter...or so it felt as I struggled to lift the brood out of the way. They were spread across both brood and super.

It was the same last year I think so its a question I've been meaning to ask about for quite some time,

Sam

 

[BKF Admin]

Are you sure it was the sugar and not stored Ivy honey ?

 

[RoseCottage]

I'm sure it was sugar syrup...
All the best,
Sam

 

[Finman]

.
Sugar syrup does not normally granulate but honey does it.

It has no meaning for wintering, what ever it is.

 

[RoseCottage]

Finman,
Can you please explain a little more...I didn't quite understand. Are you saying that even if the sugar syrup starts to crystallise Its ok for the bees?

All the best,
Sam

 

[Heather]

This is the very reason why I worry about relying on hefting. Hive heavy still- all is well - but if solid granulated ivy in there they could be starving..in that heavy hive

Please keep an eye on what is happening under the hive. If clear ground you can see wax uncapping happening. If rough ground-put a tray under to examine hive activity.
There will be lines of wax on a feeding hive-
Little wax dropped.. you have a problem!

Any doubts --Fondant..

 

[Finman]

Finman,
Can you please explain a little more...I didn't quite understand. Are you saying that even if the sugar syrup starts to crystallise Its ok for the bees?

All the best,
Sam

I take honey off from hive that they have honey about 5 kg per hive for winter.
Then I feed 20 kg sugar.

My experience is that sugar stays as tough syrup.
Crystallized areas tell where is real honey.

In two years "ready to use syrup" clystallized. Beekeepers were afraid that what happens to bees. Nothing happened. It was widely written in our forum.

 

[Finman]

.
Honey is mixture of two sugars. Fructose stays as liguid and glugose makes crystals. Cane sugar is a molecyle where is glucose+fructose. Starch is glucose + glucose.


canesugar = saccharose molecyle

Starch Bee has enzymes which split starch into sugars, just like human has.

 

[belinda bee]

I have found that when i feed sugar syrup it does seem to granulate and hard to remove. I only feed my bees fondant now home made out of honey and icing sugar i only use the bees honey what they have made nothing else.

 

[Finman]

.
Fondant is same sugar as syrup.

50 hives! Not bad!