Feeding 2:1 during Warm weather window?

[Matt J]

I saw someone post on a Facebook group that they were going to feed 2:1 while the weather here in the South is near 70 today. Wouldn't this create problems when the lows drop to the low 30s in a few days?  I was under the assumption that, not only does it have to be warm enough for them to take it, but they need time to cure and cap it.  Am I wrong?


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[BeeMaster2]

Matt,
You are right about being concerned about the weather changing before they get a chance to cure it. The problem is the amount of water evaporating in the hive and then dripping back down on the hive. If you have good insulation on top of your hive or properly leaning forward, I would not worry about it wit a day or 2 of cold weather.
This can and does happen with our weather if a tree blooms during a warm spell when the trees are confused by the weather.
Jim

[Michael Bush]

I can't say how it works out in the South.  In the North it's a very bad idea...

[Matt J]

This fellow is in South Carolina. I guess in Florida where 30s probably don't last long it may be ok, but in Alabama, we could stay In the 30s for a couple weeks at a time. Doesn't happen much, but I was guessing uncapped stores in 30 degrees is a bad idea.


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[Eric Bosworth]

Beekeeping is like government should be... locally specific. That said I can't speak for you but here in NY if I was to feed I would use dry sugar. My solution to feeding is a little different than most. In the humid months of the summer I take 5 pound bags of sugar and I leave them open. With the high humidity by the end of the summer and the time that feeding may be needed I am left with a brick of sugar. Using foundation less frames, I just put it in the middle of some empty frames in a box on top. I could just set it on top of the top box of frames and put an empty box around it without frames but if I don't get to it early enough in the spring they can start building comb down from the top and make a mess. With the frames in place they just build come down like normal.

[Mark Smith]

Bad idea at this time of year no matter what the temperature is. Too much moisture for the bees to deal with. If you need to feed, it is best to use fondant this time of year. I'm about 35 miles east of Charlotte, and if I need to feed syrup to get weight on a colony I start in Mid September and cut them off the middle of October. Hope this helped.

[Matt J]

Bad idea at this time of year no matter what the temperature is. Too much moisture for the bees to deal with. If you need to feed, it is best to use fondant this time of year. I'm about 35 miles east of Charlotte, and if I need to feed syrup to get weight on a colony I start in Mid September and cut them off the middle of October. Hope this helped.

This is what I did.  I was amazed at how fast they took down gallons of 2:1 and capped it.  I think if they go through all of that, I will either do a candy board or feed dry sugar with the Mountain Camp method.