Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Blair Sampson on September 27, 2016, 07:15:52 am
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Temps are falling quickly here in Nova Scotia. Hives are fairly full and heavy but wondering when I should start feeding? 2:1 sugar syrup ratio or fondant or both??
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Feed what they need! I usually give them a gallon at a time until they have the middle frames capped and the side frames mostly full then stop feeding. Let them cap what they have and put the sugar on.
I always put sugar on top when I winterize so i do not have to worry.. Otherwise by the end of December to the middle of February I will be headed out to "PEEK" just to make myself feel better...
If they do not use the sugar by spring I can take it off and use it to make spring syrup. So nothing is wasted
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what scott said! i also use a one gallon pail of 2:1 if need be. if bees don't take the syrup down, it could be for a number of reasons; they don't need it, temps are too cold and/or sugar syrup is too cold to take down. i also use a shim feeder, and place winter patties, fondant or sugar cakes/candy on. just extra insurance.
if your hives are heavy you may not need to feed syrup, if you do, now is the time. fondant/sugar can be added later......after syrup is removed.