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Author Topic: Mountain Camp Method  (Read 3436 times)

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Offline tbonekel

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Mountain Camp Method
« on: February 07, 2015, 08:18:11 pm »
I decided to add some dry sugar on top of a single deep colony. After a few weeks, here is what it looks like now.





I really like how the dry sugar wicks up the moisture in the hive and makes it like a sugar brick. I'm glad I put it on there. I think they were hungry. The only problem is that I was wanting to do an inspection and the sugar makes it a little difficult.
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Offline barry42001

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Re: Mountain Camp Method
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2015, 08:54:37 pm »
Dry sugar, like salt, or and dried substance, will always wick moisture from the air to reconstitute itself to something resembling what it was. To feed bees dry sugar a reliable source of water is needed for the bees to liquify the sugar so it can be converted to a more usable form.
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Offline Slowmodem

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Re: Mountain Camp Method
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2015, 10:13:25 pm »
Quote from: tbonekel on February 07, 2015, 08:18:11 pm
I really like how the dry sugar wicks up the moisture in the hive and makes it like a sugar brick. I'm glad I put it on there. I think they were hungry. The only problem is that I was wanting to do an inspection and the sugar makes it a little difficult.

I did it one year and they lived.  I didn't do it the next year and they died.  So I figure why not?  It can't hurt.  So I've got sugar on the hives this year and they're both still going.  I'll use it for syrup in a month or so.
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Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline pistolpete

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Re: Mountain Camp Method
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2015, 01:09:34 am »
I do the same, except I put the sugar on top of the inner cover.  On the warmer days they crawl up there and get it.
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Offline hamptor

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Re: Mountain Camp Method
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2015, 11:19:53 am »
I used the mountain camp method this year well past frost because I didn't think my hives were heavy enough.  2 of my 3 hives loved the dry sugar and it's kept them going pretty well.  The hives were pretty heavy this past weekend when I inspected.  The 3rd hive wouldn't eat anything I gave them except honey that I drizzled on the top of their frames.   They might not make it :sad:
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Mountain Camp Method
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2015, 05:59:04 am »
I always think "why not?" as well.  I sleep better.  I lay a layer of newspaper on top of the frames, cover with sugar, and then mist the sugar with water so they will know it is food and not carry it out the front entrance.  By the time I get to spring inspections, I never find any sugar.  Maybe bits of newspaper, but not sugar.
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