Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Joelel on August 25, 2009, 06:21:05 pm

Title: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 25, 2009, 06:21:05 pm
When you feed sugar water,do the bees eat it or make honey out of it or both ?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: mherndon on August 25, 2009, 06:30:32 pm
Both.  It also helps them in wax production at the right time of year when there is no nectar available.

Mark
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on August 25, 2009, 07:52:40 pm
honey that they can use, but not honey that you would eat or sell.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: deknow on August 25, 2009, 09:28:48 pm
 :lau:
there's that sense of humor again kathy!

if beekeepers really thought that sugar feed doesn't get into their honey crop, and they were motivated to prevent such a ting from happening, i would think blue food coloring in the sugar feed would be in order.  any takers?

but seriously, we all know that sugar can't become real honey like HFCS can!

deknow
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on August 25, 2009, 09:38:37 pm
it's not that hard to figure out.  don't feed when there is a flow on and you have honey supers on.  feed in spring for buildup and in fall to top them off for winter.  i can't imagine that anyone would feed at the same time they had honey supers on....but, maybe some don't know better?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 12:12:56 am
What do bees do different from their normal activity when they are being feed sugar water ? I would think you are feeding and watering the bees working in the hive,in doing this the workers carring pollen and nectar don't have to carry water and nectar to feed them,correct ?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Jim134 on August 26, 2009, 09:35:05 am
Nectar is about 97% water when it firsts come in.


     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 04:08:15 pm
Nectar is about 97% water when it firsts come in.


     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

What I'm saying is,honey is made from nectar that bees bring into the hive and if we feed the bees that work in the hive like the nurse,guards,if we feed them sugar water then they won't be eating the honey,correct ? So,the nectar will go to making honey, correct ?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Jim134 on August 26, 2009, 04:40:36 pm
 The nectar and sugar water will all be mix together.How do you get it a part ?? I do not know.




     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Vibe on August 26, 2009, 04:46:37 pm
The nectar and sugar water will all be mix together.How do you get it a part ?? I do not know.




     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
After the bee "carries" it, is it still "syrup"?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 05:08:55 pm
it's not that hard to figure out.  don't feed when there is a flow on and you have honey supers on.  feed in spring for buildup and in fall to top them off for winter.  i can't imagine that anyone would feed at the same time they had honey supers on....but, maybe some don't know better?

Well,we have a good strong hive with a queen we just introduced three Months ago. We had a big brood build up and there was very little pollen and honey and globes of bees. Well there is a flow on but it looked like not many were collecting,so I thought,feed them and help them build up honey and pollen. This was a real simple question,What do the bees do with sugar water when you feed them ? I know where nectar and pollen and water goes but what does sugar water go for or to ? Anyways there is a flow on and we started feeding them and they are doing 500% better,guess by feeding them I did good no matter where it goes seeing most don't know. Thank You. I'll learn this one on my own I guess.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 05:18:46 pm
The nectar and sugar water will all be mix together.How do you get it a part ?? I do not know.




     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

 Thanks,the thing was is,they were real low on pollen and honey and globes of bees and brood and eggs,so i thought help them out. I was just wondering where the sugar water went ? Guess you told me,it's mixed with nectar or the honey,Kathy said we wouldn't eat it or sell it but if it's all mixed ,i guess we do.thanks again.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on August 26, 2009, 05:19:53 pm
if you had asked the last question 1st, you would have gotten your answer.  we can only guess at what you need to know when your questions are not complete.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: ziffabeek on August 26, 2009, 05:23:04 pm
Hey Joelel,

I'm not sure, cuz I'm a real newbee, but I think what they are trying to say is that the bees don't differentiate between the sugar water and nectar.  If you feed them sugar water, they will use it for what they need - to eat or to make honey.  In other words they don't think, "Oh, I'll eat the sugar water and only use the nectar for honey", I think they just put it all together for whatever they are making/doing at the time.

all the best,
ziffa

edit - woops - guess I should refresh my screen before replying! :)  Looks like you figured it out.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: sarafina on August 26, 2009, 05:34:15 pm
Joelel, it is my understanding that they use the sugar water to build comb and also store some of it in the cells like they do the nectar and dry it into honey and cap it.

You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between honey made from nectar and honey made from sugar water, so that is why you only feed when the supers are off.  That way, it guarantees the honey in the supers is real honey.  The honey in the brood boxes they made from sugar water or nectar is for the bee's consumption so it doesn't matter.

You aren't supposed to sell honey that isn't from nectar, but of course there is no way to guarantee it other than the honesty of the beekeeper.  Your own consumption is fine - won't hurt. 
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 05:36:16 pm
if you had asked the last question 1st, you would have gotten your answer.  we can only guess at what you need to know when your questions are not complete.

What ever,read the question again,have a nice day.FIRST QUESTION,When you feed sugar water,do the bees eat it or make honey out of it or both ?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 05:48:00 pm
Thank all of you very much,with three of you saying the same now,i think I got the gospel truth.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: sarafina on August 26, 2009, 09:33:31 pm
Ok, I'm a little slow today........  Yes, I think the bees eat some of the syrup "as is" like they do nectar.  Were you asking that if the bees consumed the syrup then they wouldn't make honey out of it and the honey would all be from nectar?  I don't think it would, but I am by no means an expert - just speculating on what I have read about bees.  My guess is they use it where they need it most - as food, make comb or make honey for future needs.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on August 26, 2009, 09:41:21 pm
they will store it just as they do nectar.  you will have "honey" made from syrup.  it's fine for build up in spring and to top them off for winter.  it's not what you want to eat or sell.  in spring, it will give them a boost of brood rearing and comb building, in addition to what they might store.  as soon as you  have a good flow and want to begin collecting honey in your honey supers, stop feeding syrup or you will have adulterated "honey".

the short answer is that they  use it just as they would nectar.  you just don't want to eat it.  i think those were the 2nd and 3rd answer that joelel got.  i don't know how it could have been put more clearly for him.....
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 10:12:26 pm
Ok, I'm a little slow today........  Yes, I think the bees eat some of the syrup "as is" like they do nectar.  Were you asking that if the bees consumed the syrup then they wouldn't make honey out of it and the honey would all be from nectar?  I don't think it would, but I am by no means an expert - just speculating on what I have read about bees.  My guess is they use it where they need it most - as food, make comb or make honey for future needs.


I agree with you.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 26, 2009, 10:23:06 pm
they will store it just as they do nectar.  you will have "honey" made from syrup.  it's fine for build up in spring and to top them off for winter.  it's not what you want to eat or sell.  in spring, it will give them a boost of brood rearing and comb building, in addition to what they might store.  as soon as you  have a good flow and want to begin collecting honey in your honey supers, stop feeding syrup or you will have adulterated "honey".

the short answer is that they  use it just as they would nectar.  you just don't want to eat it.  i think those were the 2nd and 3rd answer that joelel got.  i don't know how it could have been put more clearly for him.....

No,I didn't get a sensible answer until post #8,13,14.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 26, 2009, 11:15:16 pm
they will store it just as they do nectar.  you will have "honey" made from syrup.  it's fine for build up in spring and to top them off for winter.  it's not what you want to eat or sell.  in spring, it will give them a boost of brood rearing and comb building, in addition to what they might store.  as soon as you  have a good flow and want to begin collecting honey in your honey supers, stop feeding syrup or you will have adulterated "honey".

the short answer is that they  use it just as they would nectar.  you just don't want to eat it.  i think those were the 2nd and 3rd answer that joelel got.  i don't know how it could have been put more clearly for him.....
You got that right Kathy !
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 26, 2009, 11:41:52 pm
they will store it just as they do nectar.  you will have "honey" made from syrup.  it's fine for build up in spring and to top them off for winter.  it's not what you want to eat or sell.  in spring, it will give them a boost of brood rearing and comb building, in addition to what they might store.  as soon as you  have a good flow and want to begin collecting honey in your honey supers, stop feeding syrup or you will have adulterated "honey".

the short answer is that they  use it just as they would nectar.  you just don't want to eat it.  i think those were the 2nd and 3rd answer that joelel got.  i don't know how it could have been put more clearly for him.....
Joel how long have you had bee's ? you come in here and give answers to stuff out of book's are post stuff off the net And then basically insult people when they try to help !             

No,I didn't get a sensible answer until post #8,13,14.
Joe
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Natalie on August 26, 2009, 11:52:21 pm
they will store it just as they do nectar.  you will have "honey" made from syrup.  it's fine for build up in spring and to top them off for winter.  it's not what you want to eat or sell.  in spring, it will give them a boost of brood rearing and comb building, in addition to what they might store.  as soon as you  have a good flow and want to begin collecting honey in your honey supers, stop feeding syrup or you will have adulterated "honey".

the short answer is that they  use it just as they would nectar.  you just don't want to eat it.  i think those were the 2nd and 3rd answer that joelel got.  i don't know how it could have been put more clearly for him.....

No,I didn't get a sensible answer until post #8,13,14.
Wow, there is the way to act when you are asking people to help you out :roll:

Here Kathy, let me try,
I thought it was very obvious (clear) that everyone( all posters in this thread) informed (told) you that sugar water(syrup) was used just as nectar is and if you are feeding your bees syrup (putting an artificial food source for bees into their hives) while there is a flow (natural/ floral nectar source available for a period of time) on you cannot sell that "honey" because it is adulterated (not pure or 100 percent ) honey.

The bees do not differentiate (tell the difference) between the syrup (sugar and water mixed together) and the nectar and it does not matter(make a difference) who(which bee) is working in the hive and who is bringing it in.
It all gets processed (made) into honey and they(consume) eat it and store(put it into cells to eat later.



Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on August 27, 2009, 12:13:14 am
thanks Natalie!   :-D
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 27, 2009, 12:58:01 am
Natlie Kathy give up there is no help :-D You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Natalie on August 27, 2009, 01:06:15 am
It was my pleasure Kathy ;)

Irwin, what happens if you lead him to sugar water? Will he make honey out of it? :-D
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Natalie on August 27, 2009, 01:25:42 am
I know what we should have done!!
This:

Sugar Syrup
A honeybee colony needs to be fed a sugar-water solution, or sugar syrup, when it is first introduced into a new hive.  Syrup is used as a means for administration of medication or to stimulate comb and brood production in a weak hive.  Syrup is also required during a period of nectar dearth, such as during the early spring or during a prolonged drought.  And if you are replacing the queen (requeening), it is important to administer syrup one day before the old queen is removed and continue feeding for at least a week after the new queen is installed.

comb   
a sheet of hexagonal (six-sided) adjoining beeswax cells, manufactured by honeybees to store honey, pollen and brood.  In a beehive, the beeswax honeycomb is built on comb foundation, which is mounted within wooden frames.  The queen lays eggs in the brood cells of the beeswax, and the eggs mature into larvae, then pupae, and finally emerge as adult bees.  Honeybees build their comb (or honeycomb) in two layers, with the cells in each layer pointing in opposite directions, and the layers joined at the base of the cells

sugar syrup 
sugar/water solution, used to feed bees during a period of nectar dearth, to encourage comb production in a new hive or during requeening, or as a medium for administration of medication.  Syrup is typically made from sucrose for small-quantity, backyard beekeeping applications.  Many commercial beekeepers use large volumes of high-fructose corn syrup.
See also: fructose, dextrose, Sugar Syrup

dearth   
lack of natural food sources for nectar and pollen, common between fall and spring or during a period of prolonged drought during the normal foraging season


Feeding
Honeybees need to be fed periodically to supplement their natural food sources.  Bees require a high-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, which is naturally gleaned from nectar and pollen.  But there will be times when adequate food supplies are not naturally available, so you may need to feed the bees just to keep them from starving.  There are other times when you need to supplement their diet to encourage comb building and brood production, including:

You have installed a package of bees in a new hive

You are preparing for requeening

You are preparing the colony for winter

During early spring when the hive population has dwindled

When a colony is weak and needs to increase its population

The frequency with which you supplement your bees' diet is determined by the situation at hand.  In general, performing periodic apiary inspections will tell you whether the bees need to be fed.  The following sections give you more information on specific food, how it is prepared, and when to administer it.  You may feed your colonies multiple types of food at the same time if they need it.

 Sugar Syrup
A honeybee colony needs to be fed a sugar-water solution, or sugar syrup, when it is first introduced into a new hive.  Syrup is used as a means for administration of medication or to stimulate comb and brood production in a weak hive.  Syrup is also required during a period of nectar dearth, such as during the early spring or during a prolonged drought.  And if you are replacing the queen (requeening), it is important to administer syrup one day before the old queen is removed and continue feeding for at least a week after the new queen is installed.
 Pollen Substitute
A pollen substitute is any material that can adequately replace pollen in the honeybee's diet, and typically includes soybean flour, powdered skim milk, brewer's yeast, or a mixture of these.  Substitutes are used in place of pollen to stimulate brood rearing in periods of pollen shortage, such as early spring or during a drought.  Pollen substitutes are also needed during the first two weeks after installing a package of bees or a swarm in an empty hive.  And substitutes are invaluable in a more arid environment where there is little or no natural pollen during a portion of the foraging season.
 Pollen Supplement
A pollen supplement may be administered at any time to stimulate brood production.  This is especially important during a time of nectar dearth (when there is no natural source of pollen for the bees to collect) or when the bee colony is first introduced into a new hive.  However, pollen substitutes are generally preferred as a more general-purpose, complete pollen replacement.  Pollen supplements are more commonly used to encourage brood development, as they are commonly prepared in patty form to be placed in the hive.  However, supplements do not always provide complete nutrition as a pollen substitute.  When in doubt, use a pollen substitute.
See also: Pollen Substitutes vs. Supplements
 
 Grease and Extender Patties
BeeCARE recommends feeding grease patties all year round, even during the winter, to combat tracheal mites.  When mixed with terramycin, a grease patty is called an extender patty, and is also used to control American and European foulbrood.

Note: If your hives are infested with Small Hive Beetles (SHB), you should immediately remove and discontinue using all supplemental food inside the hives, including sugar syrup, grease patties, extender patties and pollen patties.  The syrup and patties are a rich food source for the beetles, encouraging their rapid spread throughout the honeybee colony.  The presence of supplemental food within the hive makes SHB control very difficult and endangers both honey production and the colony's survival.  A better alternative is to use an external bucket feeder for dry feeding, in or near the apiary, which may be used to administer dry sugar, pollen substitutes and terramycin soluble powder.

Watering
Boardman Feeder
used for watering
Watering
Honeybees require a reliable source of relatively clean, non-toxic water during the normal foraging season


Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah....................

Is that the right way to answer a question? I think that is how its done, right??!! :evil: :-D
That may be the way to answer all of his future questions since that seems to be his preferance we are too casual in our answers.







Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 27, 2009, 01:48:48 am
 :-D
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Jim134 on August 27, 2009, 07:24:13 am
Natlie Kathy give up there is no help :-D You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.


    Irwin 

 I can't make him drink :? but I can put salt in the grain. :-P  :-D
   


     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: ziffabeek on August 27, 2009, 08:23:28 am
Wow, I thought flame threads were only found on gaming forums! :shock:
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 27, 2009, 08:46:55 am
Nat has been on my ignore list for a long time,I don't read her posts,now Kat and Irwin goes on ignorance list with her,Opps,I mean ignore.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 27, 2009, 09:24:29 am
Sorry,#2 was a sensible answer also,I forgot it.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 27, 2009, 09:37:57 am
Natalie Kathy we are the few the proud the IGNORED :-D
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 27, 2009, 09:40:03 am
honey that they can use, but not honey that you would eat or sell.

This is the question ,When you feed sugar water,do the bees eat it or make honey out of it or both ? and part of your answer is not true. ALL HONEY THAT IS MADE IS ALL MIXED TOGETHER AND IT CAN"T BE SEPERATED,SO IT WILL ALL BE EATEN AND SOLD.THE BEES DON"T KNOW TO PUT SUGAR WATER IN THE BROOD HONEY ONLY AND PUT NECTAR IN THE SUPERS ONLY.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: sc-bee on August 27, 2009, 09:45:04 am
 
>Wow, there is the way to act when you are asking people to help you out :roll:

 :roll: :-X


Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 27, 2009, 09:54:50 am
:lau:
there's that sense of humor again kathy!

if beekeepers really thought that sugar feed doesn't get into their honey crop, and they were motivated to prevent such a ting from happening, i would think blue food coloring in the sugar feed would be in order.  any takers?

but seriously, we all know that sugar can't become real honey like HFCS can!

deknow

Contradiction in this statement,Its all mixed together,does that make the mix all real honey or all not real.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: yaser al khuja on August 27, 2009, 10:06:53 am
When you feed sugar water Benefit two things
1 Activate the Queen to lay eggs ,You must be the amount of Low feed   and the time day yes day no  and The solution is composed of  one cap of water and one cap of sugar
2 if we need the bee make Honey from the solution you must be big feed and  the solution is composed of one cap of water and two cap of the sugar
note (This honey is not for sale but to Processing of bees to enter the winter  After the honey harvest )
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Jack on August 27, 2009, 10:21:00 am
perhaps he wants to market sugar water?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 27, 2009, 10:31:20 am
I think I got it he is suffering from SGMG syndrome.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on August 27, 2009, 10:42:22 am
it's not that hard to figure out.   don't feed when there is a flow on and you have honey supers on.  feed in spring for buildup and in fall to top them off for winter.  i can't imagine that anyone would feed at the same time they had honey supers on....but, maybe some don't know better?

This post was ignored because of the smart a__ cat fire storm getting started,if i would have taken it into consideration,i may have understood. But now your on my ignor list.

Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Natalie on August 27, 2009, 11:02:59 am
Look Kathy you are on ANOTHER list!! I am on this one too, I think its getting pretty full, Irwin you better try to squeeze in before there is no more room.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on August 27, 2009, 11:07:21 am
guys, while i am proud to be on a list with you all, i think we are starting to scare off the new folks who don't know the history here.

we do not want people to think they get flamed for asking questions.  any questions.

suffice it to say, for all of you who are new to this forum, there is history here.

do not be dissuaded from asking your questions by this thread.

natalie and irwin, if beemaster sends me to the ash heap again, i don't think i could stand it.  it's the coffee house for me for a bit.  see you there!   :-D
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Irwin on August 27, 2009, 11:25:20 am
Look Kathy you are on ANOTHER list!! I am on this one too, I think its getting pretty full, Irwin you better try to squeeze in before there is no more room.
Read reply 31 I'm there :-D
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Natalie on August 27, 2009, 11:34:54 am
So you are! Don't know how I missed that. Welcome, been on it for about a month now, you are in good company ;)
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Jack on August 27, 2009, 11:58:13 am
A very select group I see. Is there some kind of initiation? My name is Ben Dover and I would be interested in joining.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Natalie on August 27, 2009, 12:30:27 pm
It seems to me all you have to do is to take the time to answer questions the op starts and when he doesn't understand and you explain it further you get put on his list.
Happened to me back in July.  It looks like Irwin is on the list because he is our friend.
Ben I am sure we would welcome you to the list.
I am still wondering how Iddee has avoided being on the list for this long?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: beemaster on August 27, 2009, 03:20:09 pm
Nat has been on my ignore list for a long time,I don't read her posts,now Kat and Irwin goes on ignorance list with her,Opps,I mean ignore.



Joelel:

I just haveone comment, worth mentioning in public - when you choose to IGNORE a member or Membr POSTS, that is SOMETHING a goog member should keep to themself. If you choose to debate their points, that is a different story, but here we dealwih people whos points ma differ from ours, we eithr accept it, reject it or ignore it - Neither I nor the members need to know WHO you don't pay any attention to, doing so is saying that "For whatever reason" you find the content they post useless or foolish and it is a dig toward that member. It isn't a good rule of thumb to use here and I ask you to not share such details with the membership again.

I have members who IGNORE my attempts of communication and that is their choice, wrongfully I pointed one out and appologise for doing so, what happens behind the scenes at any members computer should remain there, If I hold myself to that standard, then I hold that standard to you too - as well as any member here.

Just as a final thought, concidaring you ignore certain people, I can't help how you quote them, is your ignore policy that lame that you don't even stand by your own rules? Being consistant is a way to build respect, pointing out your "behind the scenes plans" is a cry for attention. I don't think you purposely want to attract the latter statement, and I hope you try harder in presenting your ON-LINE charactor in a better light.

MORE.... has be PMed to JOELEL.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: deknow on August 27, 2009, 03:24:14 pm
What ever,read the question again,have a nice day.FIRST QUESTION,When you feed sugar water,do the bees eat it or make honey out of it or both ?

1. refined sucrose is never "honey", no matter how many times you run it through a bee.

2. if you have any doubts about what bees do with sugar syrup during a flow, i recommend (again) that you add blue food coloring to the syrup...then you will know for sure.  here's a hint, you will have an easier time selling honey contaminated with syrup if it isn't blue.

deknow
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: JWPick on September 07, 2009, 04:28:55 pm
Just so I'll understand...Kathy..Natalie..Irwin...You generally supply sugar water during Spring and Fall when you no longer have Supers on which means the bees use the sugar water for themselves (brood and food storage) and then you stop feeding sugar water when the flow of nectar and pollen increases so as to prevent the bees from storing any sugar water in the Supers as you begin to add them so none of the stored honey is contaminated with the sugar water mixture. Is this a correct interpretation?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on September 07, 2009, 04:46:20 pm
right.  i put syrup on when day temps are up enough for bees to fly.  that will usually be late February mid March.  i don't leave it on overnight when the temps are still freezing or very cold, because i use bucket feeders and i don't want temp changes to cause syrup drips on bee cluster.  i also put pollen patties on in late Feb.  when i stop feeding depends on when our rain lets up and things start blooming. 
i pull honey supers sometime in august, and begin feeding if they need it...and this year they really needed it.

i also leave dry sugar on the hives all winter as emergency food.  there are a couple of ways to do that.  i put mine on the inner cover.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: JWPick on September 07, 2009, 05:00:31 pm
Thanks KathyP...We really can't wait to get our bees and stuff, but we want to make sure we do things right the first time and limit our mistakes. It's really a huge learning experience that we look forward to. Thanks again!
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: iddee on September 07, 2009, 07:53:55 pm
>>>>I am still wondering how Iddee has avoided being on the list for this long?<<<<

You mean I'm not.  DARN!!! If there is one ignore list out of the 4,510 members here, Joelel's is the number one I would like to be on. If I'm not, it is probably because I skip over 99% of his posts. He's the only one on here that asks totally beginning questions, then writes a half a book explaining to others the "ONLY" correct way to keep bees.

Beemaster, if I get a chewing out for this one, feel free. It is a small price to pay for the pleasure.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on September 07, 2009, 08:06:28 pm
Lord, zip-tie my hands..........
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Bee-Bop on September 07, 2009, 09:06:12 pm
I believe I was one of the first on the list, I believe it was in June, right after he started!

I have skipped over his post since then, he don't need my opinion !

Guess I'll get another smart remark again !

BeeMaster I'm also ready for a chewing out alongside  Iddee !     :'(

Bee-Bop
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: beecanbee on September 07, 2009, 09:44:14 pm
Back on topic here...  I have used the freezer bag, a gallon I believe, and totally filled it.  I placed it on the top of the brood frames and used a spacer "ring" to raise the top board above the swollen bag.  When I pierced the bag, I got a small fountain of syrup and no doubt created a drip onto the brood.

So - how full do you fill your bags?  How long of a slice do you put in the bag with your knife, or do you use a punch?  In relatively warm weather - will the syrup drip cause harm to the brood?
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: poka-bee on September 08, 2009, 01:30:54 am
Hi Paul
I hate to miss all the fun!  You don't fill the bag completely, only about 3/4 full then make a few little slashes with a razor blade after you lay it down where the air bubble is, in the center not on the sides.  Good luck. That is the method I used.
Jody
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: beecanbee on September 08, 2009, 01:39:20 am
 
You don't fill the bag completely, only about 3/4 full then make a few little slashes with a razor blade after you lay it down where the air bubble is

Thanks for that - I only see these babies once a week, so in my desire to fatten them up for the winter - I was "force feeding" - trying to give them as much as I could.  :oops:

I like this method - the bag is completely sucked dry by next inspection, and the only dead bees are a few that won't get out of the way as I carefully place the bag in.  Far fewer than the frame feeder or even the bottle/chick water-er I was using.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on September 08, 2009, 02:49:50 am
Thanks KathyP...We really can't wait to get our bees and stuff, but we want to make sure we do things right the first time and limit our mistakes. It's really a huge learning experience that we look forward to. Thanks again!

Please note also,she is Oregon with long bad winters. If your in the South you most likely will never have to feed them except for in a drought. When you start a new hive with a package,you feed them for 2 months. If you want to do things the best way,ask me. You will hear 101 ways to do everything but one way is the best way.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on September 08, 2009, 03:06:10 am
>>>>I am still wondering how Iddee has avoided being on the list for this long?<<<<

You mean I'm not.  DARN!!! If there is one ignore list out of the 4,510 members here, Joelel's is the number one I would like to be on. If I'm not, it is probably because I skip over 99% of his posts. He's the only one on here that asks totally beginning questions, then writes a half a book explaining to others the "ONLY" correct way to keep bees.

Beemaster, if I get a chewing out for this one, feel free. It is a small price to pay for the pleasure.

I would think,if you had some answers to some of my beginners questions,you would answer them instead of skipping over them and then turning around and making a remark like this. By the way,I do keep bees the correct way,the best way.
  I have learned much more then you will ever learn because I'm not to proud to ask questions.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on September 08, 2009, 03:19:45 am
I believe I was one of the first on the list, I believe it was in June, right after he started!

I have skipped over his post since then, he don't need my opinion !

Guess I'll get another smart remark again !

BeeMaster I'm also ready for a chewing out alongside  Iddee !     :'(

Bee-Bop


 :cheer:
              :camp:
                           :deadhorse:
                                                 :devilbanana:
                                                                          :piano:
                                                                                       :wierd:
                                                                                                    :tumbleweed:
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: iddee on September 08, 2009, 10:12:05 am
>>>>By the way,I do keep bees the correct way,the best way.
  I have learned much more then you will ever learn because I'm not to proud to ask questions. <<<<

Yep, that is why I don't answer them. You already know more than anybody else, so dumb little me can't help you.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Kathyp on September 08, 2009, 10:34:49 am
the point about my living in Oregon is well made.  for all, you  make decisions based on what you see in your hive.  even in the south, one may need to feed while another does not. 
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Jack on September 08, 2009, 03:17:40 pm
I believe I was one of the first on the list, I believe it was in June, right after he started!

I have skipped over his post since then, he don't need my opinion !

Guess I'll get another smart remark again !

BeeMaster I'm also ready for a chewing out alongside  Iddee !     :'(

Bee-Bop


Looks like a party going on about half past midnight. Not to smart, drink then post.

 :cheer:
              :camp:
                           :deadhorse:
                                                 :devilbanana:
                                                                          :piano:
                                                                                       :wierd:
                                                                                                    :tumbleweed:
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Vibe on September 08, 2009, 04:56:38 pm

For what it's worth - it looks like it fits here.
Quote from: Joshua in the movie War Games
The only way to win...
is not to play.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: Joelel on September 08, 2009, 05:20:56 pm
>>>>By the way,I do keep bees the correct way,the best way.
  I have learned much more then you will ever learn because I'm not to proud to ask questions. <<<<

Yep, that is why I don't answer them. You already know more than anybody else, so dumb little me can't help you.

Hay,if you people want to keep your little game goin,go for it. I could care less if some of you answer my questions. If beemaster wants to let you people stay on me,fine,I'm game.
Title: Re: When you feed sugar water ?
Post by: JWPick on September 09, 2009, 04:27:34 pm
Thanks to everyone for their help and answers! We will begin next year with two new hives and nucs of Russian bees and I'm sure we'll have to begin feeding at first to help them get kicked off and monitor them afterwards. Our climate here in Mississippi is HOT and Humid with temperature fluctuations in the Fall to Winter, then Winter to Spring, that can get a little crazy, sometimes 30 to 50 degree drop or climb. The Russian breed tends to winter with smaller numbers than others and thus require less in food, but I believe it's best to prepare for worst-case scenarios and thank God when it never gets that bad! I just enjoy the variety of people and climates with each person's experiences and their own expertise. Thank you all!