sugar water

[lori]

I am very new at this and have just recently installed my first nuc. I have gotten different info from different sources reagrding the sugar to water ratio. The place I got them from said 2 parts sugar to 1 part water which is what I did at first. Now I am seeing 1:1 ratios discussed and possibly no feeding until fall was mentioned in one of the books I bought. I have lots of fruit trees and berries in blossom now, and am near fields with buttercup, dandelion, clover - etc.
Glad for this site - it looks like there is lots of great info and friendly folks. thanks! Lori

[iwombat]

I think most folks do 1:1 in the spring and 2:1 in the fall. I follow that as well. The most important thing though is are they taking it?

[D Coates]

Lori,

Welcome to the site. 1:1 to simulate nectar flow and get the hive going. 2:1 for them to store up for Fall feeding. I was confused about this at the start as well.

Drew

[lori]

Yes - It was all gone after the first inspection. Several bees had drowned so I took out the wire and put in a type of fabric that was like tiny mesh - they seem to be doing better with that. Maybe I'll just fill with 1:1 this time around.

[iwombat]

As long as they're taking it, you did it right.

[bnatural]

Just take a clean, one gallon container, something you can stir easily with a big spoon (like a plastic container for making iced tea). Fill it about one third with hot water from the tap. As hot as you can get it. Then, pour in one 5 lb. bag of sugar. Make sure it all gets wetted. Fill the container close to the top. Take the spoon and stir 100 times. All the sugar will go into solution. Pour into a clean one gallon milk jug or OJ container. Top off with hot water. You'll end up adding about half a gallon of water total, maybe a little less. If you use HBH, add it now. Go out and feed the bees.

Is it 2:1 or 1:1? No. It is something like 5:4 - in between. Does it matter? Not really. If they need it, the bees will take it happily and use it as they see fit. Is it easier than measuring? Yes.

Is stirring 100 times critical? No, I just count backwards from 100, 'cause it gives me something to do, while stirring, and the sugar is always dissolved by the time I finish counting. I've been making syrup this way for years. I used to pour the sugar into the milk jug using a paper funnel I made. Then, I got smart. It's a lot easier to use the plastic container. Why not use the same container to feed the bees? You can, but if you have more than one or two hives, you will need more than one container, and the milk jugs and OJ jugs have nice screw caps and handles for carrying. Less spillage on the kitchen floor.

Michael Bush ends up with just about the same ratio, if you check out his website. He has a logical reason for doing it. I'm just lazy.

Bill

[Loonerone]

Hi - I just got nucs from a long time beekeeper and he said feed 2:1 for building comb on all frames, including the second deep. 1:1 in spring is for established hives to kick start brood development. Our beekeeper said building comb takes a lot of energy, and the 2:1 works best.

Isn't it amazing how many people have different "facts" - makes my head swarm!

Good luck

Leann

[dabeekeeper]

I have used both dilutions successfully, this year for the first time I also used a product marketed by Dadant that is a Bee Vitamin Supplement, it has both lemongrass and spearmint oil as well as ? in it. The big plus is that I have also put fumigill into the syrup and the Lemongrass/ Spearmint odor and flavor completely covers any medication odor or taste and thus the bees more readily consume the syrup. The other bonus is that this year I have not used smoke to calm bees when I went in to work them but rather sprayed a fine mist of this same mixture into the hive and over the bees upon first opening it and every now and then while working the hive. I am amazed at how quiet and calm they seem to be.I have worked my hives wearing shorts and a light teeshirt, no veil or other protection. I thought smoke was a good defense, this is way better at least for the way I handle my bees.;)

[SlickMick]

This is a really interesting aspect to the management of bees and their pests. I am really interested in how it works with SHB. Have you tried it with SHB both outside and inside the hive??

Mick

[dabeekeeper]

If by SHB you are referring to hive beetle infestation, the answer is no.Until last year I had not heard of the problem and aside from finding all new info on it and watching my hives, I have not undertaken any preventive measures.My biggest goal this year was to be free of invading ants, covering as many known sicknesses as possible with medication, and trying my luck with Immune boosting regimens to help overcome most of the problems that I believe currently threaten the average bee colony in todays wierd environment.I believe as do many others, that declining bee populations nationwide are a result of many varied factors, not just one or two problems. Hope that this answers your question.:doh:

[SlickMick]

I am sure that you are correct, dabeekeeper. Especially in the US where you seem to have more issues with pests and diseases than we do here. In my 15 years beeking I have ever only had to deal with the SHB and that in recent times only and I suppose that its dominance in my management of my hives and colonies is to be expected. However I understand that beeks in your neck of the woods have much more to contend with and that a more integrated approach has to be adopted.

It is something I will explore here though

Thanks for your posts

Mick

[lori]

I really appreciate all the posts - I like the idea of spraying them gently with sugar water...the smoke seemed to really agitate them so I haven't been using it. Still not sure how to go with the ratio - I might go once more with the 2:1 and see if they keep taking it. Would it discourage them from buzzing around and checking out the berries?

[dabeekeeper]

Lori, the syrup spray works well but esentially the actual mixture of sugar to water is not as important as the addition of the Bee Healthy Vitamin Supplement that is made up of sugar, lemongrass, and spearmint oils and other minerals. It's the strong sweet aroma and flavor of that that both calms the bees as well as covering your scent. Syrup alone would not be anywhere near as effective. Dadant markets this product but there are simular products out there. A small bottle is all you need to start as it is very concentrated. I think it is about one tablespoon full per 1/2 gallon of syrup.I used lemongrass years ago in place of pheramone lure to attract and trap new swarms. An added benefit to this spray is that if you spray new frames of raw foundation, especially plasticell type the bees will more readily draw it out.Good Luck!!:thumbsup:

[bnatural]

Dadant markets this product but there are simular products out there.

This recipe has been posted many times, but I will post it here again. Someone else did it, and it was there when I needed to search for it, so, hopfeully, it will help others, if I post it here. This is a knock off of one of the 'similar products out there' In fact, I think HBH was the original. I'll just call it 'Essential Oil Syrup' recipe. I've also combined some tidbits I've read or learned about making it.

Essential Oil Syrup Recipe

- 5 cups water
- 2 1/2 pounds of sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon lecithin granules (used as an emulsifier)
- 15 drops spearmint oil
- 15 drops lemongrass oil

Bring the water to a boil and mix in the sugar until dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved remove the mixture from the heat and quickly add the lecithin and the essential oils. Stir until everything is evenly distributed. This solution should have a strong scent and not be left open around bees. Cool before using. Refrigerate unused portion. Will keep for well over a year, if cold.

Use one teaspoon per quart of syrup.

Tips:


Lecithin granules may not go into solution very easily. Take a little syrup, like half a cup, add the lecithin, and then mix in a blender or use a stick blender to emulsify the granules. Then, add back to the mixture.

If you have really hot tap water, then you will not have to boil the water to dissolve the sugar.

Stores well in used 1 quart bottled water containers in the refrigerator.

The concentrate may not be as thick as the original HBH formulation, if you have purchased the original before. But, it works just fine - goes into solution and smells of essential oils.

One teaspoon per quart of syrup is just a reference point. When first starting out, you might use a little less, until you are comfortable the bees are taking it. Personally, I just open the bottle of concentrate and pour a large 'glug' into a gallon of syrup, purely eyeballing it. The bees take it just fine. There is little about beekeeping that is an exact science.

The essential oil additive will greatly reduce the formation of mold in your top feeder - i.e. the syrup will last longer, if they are slow to take it.

Be careful, if you have a weak hive and no flow. If the scent it too strong, it can actually induce robbing of the hive.

Here is a source for essential oils and lecithin that was posted here on the forum. There may be cheaper sources out there, but the folks at LorAnn were courteous and efficient.



SOURCE for ESSENTIAL OILS AND LECITHIN
LorAnn Oils, 4518 Aurelius Road, P.O. Box 22009, Lansing, Michigan 48909
(517) 882-0215, 1-800-248-1302, fax (517) 882-0507,
E-mail customercare@lorannoils.com


Good luck.

Bill

[lori]

Is this a recipe for just spraying or to use in the feeder too? (sorry to be such a newbie)

[bnatural]

Hi Lori,

No apologies necessary. It is for both.

Bill

[Michael Bush]

They will take anything from 1:2 to 2:1. The standard recommandations are 2:1 in the winter and 1:1 in the spring.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#ratios

[DRUR]

Lori:
I noticed that you said earlier that there were dead bees in your feeder. I am certainly not the pro and have only limited experience, but I have never used the internal hanging feeders. Sure doesn't seem neccessary during the summertime when there is no danger of freezing. I usually pull the top cover off , leaving an inner cover, and then place another box (deep enough for the jar) over the inner cover and then place an upside down jar of syrup, with six to ten small holes poked in the top with a small ice pick, over the inner cover hole. Never had any bees drown this way. The syrup creates a vacuum to prevent it all from running out and the bees suck out only what they want. Then place your regular top over the empty box. I have found that then, all you have to do is look in the top to check to see if the jar is empty. If it is have another one handy full of syrup, and when you remove the empty jar, just replace it with the full one. This does not seem to disturb the bees. When the bees quit taking the syrup, just remove the jar, the empy box, and place the top back over the inner cover.

Danny

[rmthurman]

i wonder if crushed spearmint or lemongrass would work. i have plenty of it growing wild.