Does Feeding Make the Bees Lazy?

[L Daxon]

If I do open feeding for my three hives, will it make them lazy and less likely to work the few natural resources still available around?  They are a little lite on stores but we just had a 2.5 inch rain and things are starting to bloom again.  I'd rather they work the flowers, but if there is a big pot of sugar syrup around the corner of the house will they go for it and be less likely to forage what little else is out there?

I know people say they will work the natural stuff first but it seems to be a couple of gallons of sugar syrup would be irresistible.

[Joe D]

I don't think anything makes a bee lazy.  They will still fly out looking for blooms even when they have sugar syrup on their hive.  Good luck with your bees.



Joe

[AllenF]

Busy as a bee.   Bees still find stuff to do.

[Jim134]

If I do open feeding for my three hives, will it make them lazy and less likely to work the few natural resources still available around?  They are a little lite on stores but we just had a 2.5 inch rain and things are starting to bloom again.  I'd rather they work the flowers, but if there is a big pot of sugar syrup around the corner of the house will they go for it and be less likely to forage what little else is out there?

I know people say they will work the natural stuff first but it seems to be a couple of gallons of sugar syrup would be irresistible.

I can work where live bees not death one  :roll: Just my $0.02


        BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[Wolfer]

I can tell when a flow is on because my bees stop taking sugar. If its a light flow they just slow down on the sugar.

[Finski]

I can tell when a flow is on because my bees stop taking sugar. If its a light flow they just slow down on the sugar.

That is true.  But if you have flow, why to feed with sugar?
It restrict the brooding area and mi sugar to honey.

If hive has good flow, and you put open honey outside, bees go to flowers and not suck the honey.
But when willow ceases, bees start to rob other sources than flowers.

Last Spring I had a hive among big blooming willows. Hive was almost starving when I brought it the place.
Couple days later I went to give sugar syrup. When I opened the hive, they had brought in 2 days more willow honey than I had syrup with me.
But of course, if it becomes rainy week, they eate it all in very short time.

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