Author Topic: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax  (Read 950 times)

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Offline Jen

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Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« on: March 01, 2022, 02:57:49 pm »
I have forgotten this tidbit. I'm needing drawn wax pronto. Should I feed syrup to the bees to encouage wax drawing?
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Offline The15thMember

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2022, 04:41:00 pm »
Absolutely!  Bees will not draw unless there is a flow, so if you aren't having a natural flow, then syrup should encourage them to get building. 
I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led.  And through the air, I am she that walks unseen.

Offline iddee

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2022, 05:21:19 pm »
Water should be 1 to 1, or even 1 sugar to 2 water. Thin for wax building.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
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Offline Jen

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2022, 07:30:04 pm »
Oh Yah!

Now, I don't feed internally, I like jars on top of the hive. This year we have had crazy early spring. Soo much early capped brood the hives are getting stuffed. The nights are still dropping down to below 40 and up to 60+ during the afternoon. It takes too long for the syrup to warm up from the cold mornings. Should I bring the jars of syrup in at night? 
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Offline The15thMember

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2022, 08:10:57 pm »
Oh Yah!

Now, I don't feed internally, I like jars on top of the hive. This year we have had crazy early spring. Soo much early capped brood the hives are getting stuffed. The nights are still dropping down to below 40 and up to 60+ during the afternoon. It takes too long for the syrup to warm up from the cold mornings. Should I bring the jars of syrup in at night? 
Something I have done in temperatures like that is warmed up the syrup in the microwave in the mornings, evenings, or both, so they are able to take it easier.  Obviously not practical with many hives, but with just a few it's not too much work. 
I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led.  And through the air, I am she that walks unseen.

Offline iddee

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2022, 08:17:25 pm »
Two jars per hive. Swap them out in an instant when needed. Keep the idol one in the warm.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

Offline Jen

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2022, 12:58:19 am »
Thanks everyone, just starting to get my bee brain on for the season  ;)
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Feeding syrup to encourage bees to draw wax
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2022, 12:40:18 pm »
Wish I could say the same. We have most of a month left here before things start to pick up…


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Keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.
Henry David Thoreau