Author Topic: MegaBee or Honey Bee Healthy? (Read 15891 times)

Jen · « **on:** March 08, 2014, 12:08:36 am »

I've been feeding winter patties for over a month now. Temps are early 40's nights, and 50's/60's during the days.

Just three days ago I put on the first quart jar of Honey Bee Healthy. It's Gone!

Curious about liquid MegaBee or Honey Bee Healthy? Which would you choose?

blueblood · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2014, 06:59:32 am »

They flat out suck down, eat up resources you give them this time of year. I wouldn't say one was better than the other. I get my pollen patties from Mann Lake which have Pro-len and Pro-health in them. Mannlake claims their patties were consumed 15-30% higher rate than other patties and bees increased by 1-1/2 to 3 frames more. I am sure the guy that wants to sell you his is going to say his is better.

riverbee · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2014, 12:36:19 pm »

i think either is fine jen. like blue says the bees take it down. i have never used the liquid mega bee, but use HBH in my sugar syrup in the spring and fall.

Jen · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2014, 12:40:20 pm »

The winter patties that I make are MegaBee and Honey Bee Healthy combined. My hive is devouring a pattie a week. Crazy!

I'm thinking tho that if I make liquid MegaBee, the hole in the lid might need to be a tiny bit bigger. I'll experiment.

Thanks Blue

tefer2 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2014, 01:15:29 pm »

I've tried several times to feed liquid megabee with feeder jars.
You are right on with the holes plugging up on you.
Enlarging the holes just make it run out all over the place.
Does work in other flat feeders though.
I'd just continue patty's along with syrup.
Can't be long till real pollen for you, can it?

Jen · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2014, 02:12:52 pm »

Well that makes sense! I have lots of pollen coming in. So I'll just go with the Honey bee Healthy.

Thanks Tef and Riv

kebee · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2014, 06:07:09 pm »

I put around a tablespoon of honey bee Healthy in my 1 to 1 syrup when I feed the bees and it makes them really go for it.

Ken

lazy shooter · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2014, 09:28:42 pm »

My bees love HBH. I mix it in my sugar syrup, and the bees always take it readily. It also really makes the house smell good when mixing it.

Jen · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2014, 09:30:24 pm »

Lazy- Yes! I love the way it smells when I'm making it.

tefer2 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2014, 09:36:57 pm »

Alright you guys, don't want to hear of anyone taking a swig from the syrup jug now!
Smells good enough to mix a cocktail!

lazy shooter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2014, 10:19:51 am »

Liquid syrup is the only feed that works for me. My bees have always been very restrained on bee patties and sugar. They eat very little of either. Feeding via a board man feeder either on the landing board or enclosed in the hive is the only method of feeding that has worked for me. They take 1:1 sugar water like dope addicts take cocaine. I tried other types of feeders, including zip loc bags, and they drowned more bees than the last two hurricanes. Oh, did I mention, I HATE FEEDING.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2014, 01:05:12 pm »

Lazy- I came into this forum kicking and screaming about Feeding. But alas, I am bending that way. What I've learned on this forum on how they can starve in late winter helped me turn the corner.

lazy shooter · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2014, 03:49:01 pm »

Jen:

I feed when I think it is necessary, which in a drought, is a lot. I feed, but I STILL HATE TO DO IT.

Jen · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2014, 12:22:59 am »

Do you feed just sugar syrup? or do you add anything to it like essential oils?

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2014, 01:19:55 am »

I'm not a big fan of feeding either. Early spring everybody gets a little to jump start buildup. At the first sign of necter I cut the established hives off. Light hives get a little more consideration.

Since I build most of my nucs in late summer They of course have to be fed. Most of their winter stores will come in the form of capped honey from strong hives. The 1/1 is just to keep them building up.

I use a little HBH in the spring but never when it's nearing robbing season. Since I'm treatment free I'm a little concerned about essential oils and what damage they may do while their doing good.

I'm just an old country boy and I believe we have good boogers that help fight bad boogers and the good boogers will be the first to die.
I could be wrong, I often am.

riverbee · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2014, 02:43:31 am »

"I'm just an old country boy and I believe we have good boogers that help fight bad boogers and the good boogers will be the first to die.
I could be wrong, I often am."

........

lazy shooter · « **Reply #16 on:** March 10, 2014, 08:53:25 am »

Oh my God Woody, I wish I had written the below statement:

"I'm just an old country boy and I believe we have good boogers that help fight bad boogers and the good boogers will be the first to die.
I could be wrong, I often am."

I use HBH as suggested my the label most of the time. If I am in a hurry, I just place 1:1 syrup in the jars. I am in a location with a very low bee population, and in three years I have never experienced robbing. There aren't many bees in God forsaken, drought ridden areas.

i do love, good boogers fighting bad boogers. That's language that I can understand. Like Woody, I have often been wrong.

lazy shooter · « **Reply #17 on:** March 10, 2014, 09:08:32 am »

I raise grass fed cattle that are never injected with anything and never fed antibiotics or sprayed with pesticide. They are sold to buyers that want pure untainted beef, and no, I don't feed them anything. That's may be why feeding bees sticks in my craw. Also, when I am feeding, I feel that I am assisting in the elongation of a creature's life that maybe should not be here. In my pea sized brain, I think things die for a reason. Now, don't any of you start wringing your hands thinking I may let several hives of bees starve to death. Due to all of the concern on this and other forums about the dwindling number of bees, I will continue to feed when necessary. It's just that every time I feed, I have two nagging questions in my mind: Are these bugs supposed to be here, and if so, why can't they make it on their own?

apisbees · « **Reply #18 on:** March 10, 2014, 10:56:54 am »

Quote from: lazy shooter on March 10, 2014, 09:08:32 am

I raise grass fed cattle that are never injected with anything and never fed antibiotics or sprayed with pesticide. They are sold to buyers that want pure untainted beef, and no, I don't feed them anything. That's may be why feeding bees sticks in my craw. Also, when I am feeding, I feel that I am assisting in the elongation of a creature's life that maybe should not be here. In my pea sized brain, I think things die for a reason. Now, don't any of you start wringing your hands thinking I may let several hives of bees starve to death. Due to all of the concern on this and other forums about the dwindling number of bees, I will continue to feed when necessary. It's just that every time I feed, I have two nagging questions in my mind: Are these bugs supposed to be here, and if so, why can't they make it on their own?

The answer is No they are not an indigenous species. But neither is the horse, most breeds of cats and dogs, and most likely the breed of cattle you keep. Along with all the varieties of crops and foods that are planted that now require the honey bee for pollination. It is a vicious circle of what came first the chicken or the egg. In the end dose it really matter, you wont have one without the other.

lazy shooter · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2014, 11:05:17 am »

Thanks for the above explanation Apis. That makes more sense than anything else I have read. It is another of those things that man has changed the natural order of events.