Feeding Time for Northerners... What are you using?

[CpnObvious]

In a variety of posts, I've shared what I've been doing for my bees as spring tries to emerge.  I thought it might be helpful to have a dedicated thread to see what everyone else in Northern regions are doing.  Although there are some other somewhat-similar threads, I'm starting this one to be Spring 2015-specific.  This year has been exceptionally different with the cold, wind, & precipitation not letting up.

Down to the nitty-gritty:

1)  Over the past month my two hives have each gotten about 1 1/2 Mann Lake Winter Patty (1 hive got another 1/2 yesterday, but wasn't quite ready for it.  The other hive is in need of another 1/2)

2)  Both hive have now been given about 2/3-cup of Ultra Bee Dry, from Mann Lake.  I did not mix it into patties, nor is it necessary.  I checked on one hive about 6 hours after giving it to them... it is quite clear they've been in it.)  I figured now is about the time to try to kick-start the queen into laying.

3)  I don't THINK I see signs of tracheal mites, but I'm not sure.  Some bees are walking around with their wings open, but not all.  I'm not entirely sure what other signs their may be.  Because of this, I'm going to make a very small batch of grease & sugar with maybe a drop or to of menthol added to it.  I'll give this to them by weeks' end.

I have been feeding them by placing their "treats" on top of the inner cover.  I've now placed a frameless shallow honey super on top to provide more space and aeration.

[blueblood]

Straight up 1:1 syrup.  I put 2 quarts in a 4 quart bag, lay it on the inner cover and run a razor blade over it a few times to make some some slits for them to drink from.  The vent super allows enough room for the bag to sit in there.  I like this method because it eliminates robbing and frankly, it's easy.

[Perry]

Fondant on everything. Still too cold and way too much snow to do much else. Will be doing a second round of fondant for any that have used it up.
Would normally have put pollen patties on in March, but this year it just wasn't in the cards. Pollen patties stimulate brood rearing which is nice, but not so far ahead of when anything natural becomes available unless you're prepared to keep buying it to give them.
The first of the packages coming into the province arrived last night, and we still have 3 feet of snow in most parts.

[pistolpete]

When the snow comes off the ground I start feeding 1:1 syrup in a pickle jar inverted over a screened hole in the inner cover.   I continue feeding until the trees start to bloom.   Pollen starts to come in way earlier than nectar and feeding light syrup simulates a nectar flow.  This stimulates the queen to lay more vigorously.  Feeding heavy syrup or fondant will not have the same effect.

 I think that feeding pollen is a waste of time unless you're in the business of selling bees.   Feeding pollen and syrup early will just lead to swarming if you're not splitting the hives.

[CpnObvious]

Pete, I hadn't really thought of it that way.  HOWEVER, on the bright side... I'd really like to split my hives to double-up!  Accidental benefit!

[Papakeith]

1:1 and fondant depending on the colony and my supply of jars/baggies.  I have two hives left that have fondant on them.  all others have been switched over to syrup.

[LazyBkpr]

What Pete said...  I JUST removed the sugar cakes from the hives in my Outyards because I saw pollen and nectar coming in..  But they did not get fed anything extra, they are production hives... I want them to be strong, but not overflowing.
   In my home yard things are a bit different.. these hives will be split three to four ways each..  so the first warm day we had in March, they had pollen sub (dry) in my feeder stations. I have also fed about 50 gallons of syrup over the course of the last few weeks..
   I wanted them to be able to GET the syrup they wanted and needed, so rather than using my feeder stands with jars, i used an old lobster cooler, and built a grate/float for it.. (I'll get ont he otehr comp and post pics later)  I was exceedingly happy with it. No fighting, just bees lined up at the bar. They suck down 5 gallons of syrup in about half a day..  The hives here in the home yard are booming with bees..  I will be making queens next week, provided the drone cells I saw last time I was in are emerging. 

[riverbee]

"I think that feeding pollen is a waste of time unless you're in the business of selling bees.   Feeding pollen and syrup early will just lead to swarming if you're not splitting the hives."

feeding bees any type of pollen sub, and at any time of the year is not a waste of time.  bees will swarm if so inclined whether you feed  this to them with syrup or not or practice other measures for swarm management.  in areas where there are droughts of pollen, a pollen sub is a good thing even in the spring, or if there is little to no pollen present in the hive.  bees need pollen to survive, and bees need pollen to feed themselves and baby bees to make healthy bees.  in spring this ramps up when the queen is laying.  NUTRITION, if you don't have it, your will bees will suffer, pollen sub or the real thing.  many look at this from the standpoint of ramping up the queen for laying, but pollen subs have many more benefits than building up a hive.

like scott said, he placed dry pollen sub out.  how many of us have seen our bees scavenge for pollen in compost piles, dirt, cornfields, etc.....wherever or when it is or might be short in the hive?

i feed my bees 1:1 syrup in the spring and if need be, i give them a pollen sub, i always prepare for swarming, but i will not, not give them what they might need to survive or produce healthy bees.

[rwlaw]

I don't think that feeding pollen sub is a bad thing as you just don't know if the bees have access to the pollen stores in the bottom box. Come mid Feb they're going to be raising brood with whatever they can scrape up, might as well make sure they're going to be healthy. They can and will turn their nose up at the sub if they have access to the real deal or they're not brooding yet.I give em a half patty the first nice day after St Patrick's day and more if needed if the cold drags on.
As far as feed goes, I use sugar blocks and keep them on until they start making burr comb, if they have enough nectar to make wax, they don't need help after that, unless the wheels fall off weatherwise and have to give em (usually the dinks) some 1:1 syrup.

[CpnObvious]

Last year when I started there seemed to be much debate over 1:1 syrup vs 2:1.  As a reminder, I started off with package bees and all virgin foundation.  I had countless suggestions of both 1:1 and 2:1.    I was advised to keep feeding them syrup until they drew out all 20 frames.  That advice seemed fairly consistent.  I'm still trying to understand the 1:1-2:1 debate...

If I remember correctly, a common recommendation was to feed them 1:1 in the spring, 2:1 in the fall.  I distinctly remember at least one person saying they only ever feed 2:1 because it's less the bees have to evaporate, so why make them work harder?  Is there an advantage or reason to feed 1:1 in the spring and not 2:1?  It's still too cold here to provide them with liquid, but I would imagine in the next couple of weeks I can start.

[Papakeith]

I think that the difference is that in the spring you are trying to mimic spring nectar to stimulate brood laying.  1:1 is supposed to be better for that.  2:1 is more "emergency feed" and is thicker so they can pack it away without evaporating much.

[Perry]

I think that the difference is that in the spring you are trying to mimic spring nectar to stimulate brood laying.  1:1 is supposed to be better for that.  2:1 is more "emergency feed" and is thicker so they can pack it away without evaporating much.

I couldn't agree more.

[GLOCK]

I have not given them and thing but honey frames this spring so far . I only had day old eggs as of  SUNDAY and i only checked my nuc's {16} .
I have all ways open fed but this past  year was my best year and don't really need to feed sugar syrup .Will that effect how fast my brood grows ?
I have  BEEPRO  out but t here not touching it yet but it's still cold.
Any way if you where me would you feed syrup if ya didn't need to . Will they grow faster with the syrup.I have nucs i'd like to get going so i can get them to there new owners as soon as possible. thank you.

[Perry]

If you are looking for fast build-up, 1 to 1 syrup helps. They may have honey in the hive, but thin syrup mimics a flow and gets them going.

[Slowmodem]

I always kind of snicker at this discussion.    I know both sides have merit, but I don't think there's a QA bee to measure the syrup before they partake.  They've never been pickey at my feeder.  I guess I'm giving them 1:1 plus a squirt of lemon juice and a dab of HBH.

[pistolpete]

the basic answer on syrup concentration is: feed light syrup if you wan then to use it, feed heavy syrup if you wan them to store it. 

They will of course store light syrup if the mood strikes them, and use heavy syrup if they need it.  The idea is to make the product user friendly for the bees.  1:1 is fairly close to the concentration they actually feed to the brood, if it's thicker they will dilute it before using it.  2:1 is about the thickest solution that will stay liquid and makes for less work to get it to honey consistency for storage.

[CpnObvious]

the basic answer on syrup concentration is: feed light syrup if you wan then to use it, feed heavy syrup if you wan them to store it. 

They will of course store light syrup if the mood strikes them, and use heavy syrup if they need it.  The idea is to make the product user friendly for the bees.  1:1 is fairly close to the concentration they actually feed to the brood, if it's thicker they will dilute it before using it.  2:1 is about the thickest solution that will stay liquid and makes for less work to get it to honey consistency for storage.

That makes sense, Pete.  Thanks.  This is always an interesting discussion, no argument there!  It all sounds logical no matter which "side" you listen to, though.  This all helps...  I think...

[Ray]

there has only been 3 flying days, but the girls are bringing in a little pollen.
Feeding last years honey, criss-crossed the boxes and let them have at it. I have lots of partial frames from dead outs.
Interesting they haven't opening the capped cells(yet).

When I feed syrup, it's 5 lbs sugar to 3 pints water with a little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.