New Rookie Question

[EasternShore]

Hey All you Bee Folks!!!

Just caught another swarm, very small and was wondering???

How concentrated can you make the syrup? Will it help them to make it thicker?

I've been told 1-1 for summer and 2-1 in winter...

These girls had been hanging out for 3 days before someone called me. Poor things are wore out. I transfered a frame of brood and a mixed honey and brood from my other hive, I'm risking both if I take anymore.

They darn near ripped the boardman feeder out of my hands while installing it.

Thank GOD my Dadant order came in yesterday.

Hope you all are fairingfwell...we are SO dry here...
Mark

[Bill W.]

Well, you can make it so concentrated that you don't add any water at all!  You can just feed them straight sugar, but this is probably best done in the middle of a cold winter, rather than a dry, hot summer.  The bees get water from the syrup as well.

When adding water, you would have a very hard time getting more than a 2:1 ratio, so this is typically as concentrated as you get.

As a side note (well, question), in your area should you be starting a small, weak swarm as a new hive at this point?

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#ratios

[EasternShore]

Well, no it's not a good idea, but I took the swarm call and refuse to kill honey Bee's. The land owner really wanted them taken away so I took them. If they are queenless I will blend them with my other hive.

Thanks for the info folks!

[Bill W.]

Don't get me wrong - I wasn't suggesting you kill them!  I was just thinking that if it is such a small swarm it might make more sense to reinforce an existing hive with them.