Author Topic: Feeding bees sugar syrup  (Read 5050 times)

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Offline 3reds

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Feeding bees sugar syrup
« on: November 23, 2018, 04:49:05 pm »
Is there a better way?  I am mixing 3 separate gallons of 2-1 syrup by heating water, adding it to the sugar in the container and then trying to stir the heavy syrup.  Seems like there might be a more efficient way to do this.

Offline Chip Euliss

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2018, 05:24:23 pm »
Heat the water, and syrup if necessary, to get it in solution.  Add citric acid (1:1000 --weight of citric to sugar) to the mix to invert the sucrose to fructose and glucose to reduce the energy the bees have to expend to make the same conversion.  I mix in 250 gallon batches so can't help you with how, specifically, to do the mechanical mixing.  Extra heat is ok but just until it's all in solution.
Chip

Offline 3reds

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2018, 05:39:54 pm »
So, maybe it would be easier to pour all of the sugar into the heated water on the stove and then put in my containers.

Offline Chip Euliss

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2018, 05:46:07 pm »
That should work
Chip

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2018, 07:33:12 pm »
I know what you mean 3reds.  This job is awkward for me too.  I have a tendency to get the water too hot then the sugar doesn't want to dissolve properly.  I just have a stock pot to mix this in.  A larger container would be nice.  Maybe a 5 gallon bucket.  I think I will try heating the water, pouring in the 5 gallon bucket and stirring in the sugar.

Offline 3reds

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2018, 07:52:44 pm »
Yes, I have been putting water on top of the sugar and it is very hard to stir.  Maybe the trick is to put sugar in last.

Offline Chip Euliss

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2018, 08:23:12 pm »
Add the sugar gradually.  I have a large mixing tank with a mechanical mixing paddle.  It can be overloaded if you put the sugar in too quickly and its powered by a 220volt motor
Chip

Offline riverbee

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2018, 08:39:35 pm »
3reds this is what i do for my feeder pails:

i start by bringing a stock pot full of water almost to a boil.

i line my pails up, i put HALF of the sugar required in them. i get my tap water real hot. when the tap water is hot, i stir some very hot top water into the pails with about half the sugar, and then add the near boiling water and the rest of the sugar, and stir. give yourself some room when adding the tap water to add the boiling water to dissolve the crystals and add the rest of the sugar, gradually, and add additional near boiling water from the stove top to top off your pail. i do this one at a time. it is tedious, but it works.

don't put the sugar in last, start with a little sugar then add gradually, and add the hot water from the stove. let it sit after all is stirred up, the crystals will dissolve. don't get the water from the stove too hot, ya don't want to blow out your plastic pail........ :D

hope this helps?!

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Offline 3reds

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2018, 11:01:36 pm »
Thank you riverbee, I will try this.

Offline 3reds

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2018, 11:05:57 pm »
Thank you bakers dozen, I am going to get a bucket for sure.

Offline CBT

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2018, 07:52:05 am »
A large paint mixer for a battery drill may save your arms. You can also use it to stir honey. Another gift idea.

Offline rober

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2018, 09:36:57 am »
what CBT said only I use a drywall mud mixer. I also use a hot plate or turkey fryer burner outdoors or in the workshop to keep from messing up the stove.

Offline Lburou

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2018, 12:25:46 pm »
I'm lazy.  I do it the way Michael palmer described.  It went something like this...

In a five gallon bucket, add your sugar, (any amount, but probably 15-20 pounds is enough to start with).  Add water until water reaches the top surface of the sugar, (warm, hot, boiling, it does not matter), then mix.  When that water is mixed in, add water again until water reaches the top surface of the admixture of sugar and water, then mix again.  M. Palmer described an exact ratio of water to sugar after that process, but I don't remember it.  It makes a consistent ratio no matter the amount of sugar you start with. 

When I see sugar settling out after mixing, I just mix it again in a few minutes and that usually works fine.  I use a paint mixer from Home Depot on a hand drill, (don't mix too fast, it will be all over your feet).


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Offline Riverrat

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2018, 03:22:33 pm »
Iddee and I always had the laugh over a 55 gallon barrel and a trolling motor I used to mix with years ago :D :D
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Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2018, 04:46:51 pm »
Hopefully it was a new trolling motor

Offline 3reds

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2018, 04:52:03 pm »
Do you need to refrigerate the syrup if you don’t use it all?

Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2018, 05:13:06 pm »
If it's cool in the garage or mixing house
I'd thank you are good, if it gets warm , then maybe different.

Offline riverbee

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #17 on: November 27, 2018, 10:27:23 am »
"Do you need to refrigerate the syrup if you don’t use it all?"

3 reds, yes, i would refrigerate the syrup.
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Offline Chip Euliss

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2018, 10:17:27 am »
You can also use bleach to keep it from fermenting.  1 cup bleach per 55 gallons of syrup
Chip

Offline riverbee

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Re: Feeding bees sugar syrup
« Reply #19 on: November 28, 2018, 11:06:28 am »
chip, i don't think 3reds is making 55 gallons of syrup?!............. :D :D :laugh:
3reds, chip just keeps a FEW hives......... :D

anyway, bleach does work to help keep the syrup from fermenting, not sure how much would be used for a smaller amount for a few hives, i always used hbh.
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
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