Feeding with old honey

[BellaFrunes]

I was given two 5 gal buckets full of honey comb from a saw mill worker friend.  He sawed into it and out poured honey.  They gathered 6 five gallon buckets of honey and comb.  I've filtered a sample and it is very dark and very strong flavored.  I was wondering if it would be alright to feed it to my bees?  Maybe late winter if their stores are running low or during no flow periods.  If that is not a good idea maybe I could use it for baking and cooking.  Thanks

[Jen]

Hi Bella- It is my understanding that we should only feed our bees back their own honey. American/Euro Foul Brood or other pathogens can be in honey outside of your own hives ~

[LazyBkpr]

I would not feed any honey to my bees I was not certain of its origin and the condition of the bees. If they had even the beginnings of AFB you will kill all of your hives.   It wont hurt YOU to eat it but it could be bad for your bees!

[apisbees]

As stated above. it is a gamble feeding it back even if the hive it came from never had AFB\EFB this hive could have robed out a hive that did and the spores are in the honey. Us It for cooking, make some Honey BBQ sauce

[Jen]

Strain it, get it pretty and clear. Buy some small 4 ounce mason jars, give it for holiday gifts

[BellaFrunes]

I really don't want to throw it out so I'll use it in the kitchen and gift it away.  I wonder if I could make a mead with it?  Thanks for the quick replies!

[apisbees]

Thy a small amount first some strong honeys does not make good tasting mead.

[riverbee]

bella, i would do as others have already said, i would not use this to feed my bees, however i would use for my own consumption and as you said baking and cooking.  as far as mead making, i can't give advice on this as i have not utilized honey for this purpose, perhaps someone who has can jump in here and give their thoughts on it. 

[lazy shooter]

Obviously, if one had a frozen frame it could be installed in a hive, but how does one feed liquid honey?  Do you use a boardman feeder?

[brooksbeefarm]

Hmmmm, I took a 5 gal. bucket and a half of comb honey from a cut out and am planning to give it back to that hive. I didn't get the queen and they have made another queen that is laying a great pattern, i have top feeders on all my hives (year round) and plan on putting the comb honey in there top feeder and close off the top entrance. This was a huge hive that filled two deeps so i'm not  worried to much about a disease issue. Jack

[Bakersdozen]

Dark honey is usually just fine for baking.

[Perry]

Obviously, if one had a frozen frame it could be installed in a hive, but how does one feed liquid honey?  Do you use a boardman feeder?

Feed honey the same way you feed syrup, only dilute it 10% with water to thin it out a bit. Trust the source of your honey first of course.