How long is Sugar Syrup Good

[Ron Young]

How long is sugar syrup good? I know that when feeding humming birds, the syrup sours and needs to be changed if not used in a certain amount of time. Is this also true for syrup being fed to bees?

[ August 25, 2006, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: NCBeginner ]

[Jesus_the_only_way]

It usually will go about three-four days in a top feeder before it starts to mold on top. If you add about an ounce of Apple Cider Vinegar to each gallon it will last longer and the bees still like it just fine. Right now my bees are going thru more than a gallon a day per hive, so it doesn't have time to spoil.

Tom

[CWBees]

It will start to get moldy after a period of time. Here is a good thread on this subject. http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002743#000003

[Ron Young]

I only have the one hive, and it was a removal from an old house. The removal was on the 22nd of August, so they will be eating quite a bit I am sure.

Would it hurt anything if I placed a gallon jar feeder on a fence near the hive, and allowed them to carry the syrup back to the hive? I have a quart jar entrance feeder in place now, and they have used about 1/4th of it today.

[drobbins]

Ron,

I think I would avoid an open feeder like that
It would probably be ok but it's possible you could start robbing from a feral hive which might then pounce on your hive since it's new and weak
sounds like you got em home ok smile.gif

Dave

[iddee]

Dave, you should have q-cells by now...Do you?

[drobbins]

I'm gonna check tommorrow
some fellow from chapel hill who wants to keep bees is coming over and I'm gonna check em while he's here
maybe I'll cheat and peak now smile.gif

Dave

[Ron Young]

I have not looked for queen, nor queen cells in the hive yet. I plan to look in on them on Monday.

[drobbins]

well, don't tell, but I peaked
no queen cells, I guess this one is a bust
no sweat, I have two options
I could give them some eggs from another hive
unfortunately the only hive I'd want to steal brood from is mean as heck and I don't want to breed them
I also have a hive I like that's kinda weak
I think I may combine the nuc with them
I'll probably decide on the fly tommorrow

Ron, let us know what you find
good luck

Dave

[edit]hmm, on second thought I have 1 hive from a cuttout this spring that I might could steal a frame from, will have to look into it tommorrow

[ August 25, 2006, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: drobbins ]

[Ron Young]

Do you think you may have the queen? Did you see her, or any new eggs?

If I have a robber screen on the hive, do you think that robbing would be a concern if I did use an external/remote feeder?