Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: FrogPond on May 28, 2005, 09:14:11 pm

Title: Sugar Fomaulae - Prefered Mixes?
Post by: FrogPond on May 28, 2005, 09:14:11 pm

OK, I started my hives with 2:1 sugar:water but the syrup was so concentrated it crystallized in the hive-top feeders. I have backed this batch down to a 25# bag of sugar in 2 gallons of water... by weight that is 25:16 - somewhere between 2:1 and 1:1. I added a splash of "Bee Healthy" because my supplier told me to do it.

So - I ask the pro bee herders here... what do you feed your bees? While I am at it, how long should I keep feeding them? They are drawing all new comb - the packages were installed about three weeks ago.

Thanks - I appreciate the comments.

Title: Sugar Fomaulae - Prefered Mixes?
Post by: TwT on May 28, 2005, 09:31:54 pm

this is what i go by but some might not agree:

sugar   -    water   -    reason
 2       -      1     -    fall feeding for winter stores
 1       -      1     -    spring feeding for comb building and spring buildup

some say feed 1 sugar - 2 water for spring feeding but I see some comercial guys feed HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), but the main reason they do it is because you can get it in truck loads or 55 gallon drums, to many hives to make sugar water for , easier to just feed from a drum that is ready to go.

but there are some real pro's in here that will straigten us both out  :wink:

Title: Sugar Fomaulae - Prefered Mixes?
Post by: drobbins on May 28, 2005, 09:53:40 pm

I picked up my first package in late april at brushy mountain
they sell HFCS by the gallon so I bought 10 gallons ($25)
let me tell you, it's thick gooy stuff
it crystalized, or tried to in the cans
I set it out in the sun on a warm day and it's ok
I've been cutting it about 1:1 with water with a few drops of wintergreen
bee's seem to prefer it to the strong nectar flow going on here now

oh, by the way, I'm a total neebie so take what I say with a rock of salt

Dave

Title: Sugar Fomaulae - Prefered Mixes?
Post by: thegolfpsycho on May 28, 2005, 11:18:34 pm

http://robo.hydroville.com/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5

Title: Sugar Fomaulae - Prefered Mixes?
Post by: Michael Bush on May 29, 2005, 03:52:53 pm

I like the fact that 2:1 keeps better.  1:1 spoils easier.  So if I'm making a lot of syrup ahead of time I tend to make 2:1.  Yes the surface will dry and crystalize, but who cares?

I do like 1:1 in the spring.  If they are taking it really well, I'll just mix it with hot tap water.  If they aren't using it that quickly, I'll make five gallons of 2:1 and water it down with hot tap water when I feed it.  When there is a flow, I don't bother to feed.  Feeding is the leading cause of robbing.  If I have a struggling hive, I'd rather steal a frame or two of honey from a strong hive to boost them than feed them and risk them getting robbed.

The other leading cause I've seen of robbing is HBH.  It REALLY attracts the robbers.