Mountain Camp Method of feeding/moisture control

[StevenG]

Greetings!
I ran across this feeding method in a different thread, and the photo link didn't work. I went to his web site... www.mountaincampfarm.com and tried to understand the pictures. So, knowing what assumptions do to a person, and seeing newspaper, paper towel, and what appeared to be a torn open sack of granulated sugar, I thought it best to assume nothing, and simply ask!

What specifically is the Mountaincamp Method of feeding, of which everyone speaks so highly?

Thanks!

[Hambone]

Gary explains it well. At least to me he does.

http://www.indianahoney.com/ihf/drysugar/drysugar.html

[StevenG]

Thanks Derek, that's a great help!

Regards,
Steven

[sqkcrk]

Greetings!

What specifically is the Mountaincamp Method of feeding, of which everyone speaks so highly?

Thanks!

The Mountain Camp method of feeding is better known amongst beekeepers everywhere as The Dry Sugar Method. It got called The Mountain Camp Method because our friend Mountain Camp explained it and illustrated it here on beesource. One name is as good as another.

Basically it's a wooden rim, set on top of an open beehive so a sheet of newspaper can be laid in it and a bag of dry sugar can be placed on the paper. Then the cover is put back on. As winter passes and the bees breath, their resperation dampens the paper and the sugar and the bees eat the sugar, which is right above them. This can give a colony about one month of feed. Which can be all the difference between starvation and making it through the winter.

Mountain Camp's Method seems to use a shallow or medium super. i think that that is too much empty space. I prefer a 1 1/2 inch feeder rim.

You can use this same method to feed corn syrup too. Just use two or three sheets of newspaper. The trouble w/ feeding corn syrup is that the bees usually don't fill out the crossword puzzle, like they often do when feeding dry sugar. :) Hey, I've seen it.

[Ross]

I use an empty medium. I always dampen the newspaper and the sugar pile with a sprayer. It seems to get them started eating it, and it hardens the surface to keep them from hauling it out.

[bfriendly]

please explain how you use this method for corn syrup

[Boglehead]

Thanks for the great information.

Are ants a particular problem? I have two hives that are often covered in ants when I come to refill the syrup. Do they remain active in the winter?

[sqkcrk]

please explain how you use this method for corn syrup

In the feeder rims that I described, lay two or three sheets of newspaper in the rim on top of the hive and pour the corn syrup on to the paper. It will hold the syrup. The bees will lick it off the bottom of the paper.

[BeeHave]

Thanks Derek for the link which was very helpful. :thumbsup:
Ms BeeHave

[treeoflife]

Very interesting info, and something I'd like to learn more about. Is this feeding method done after the fall feedings and winterization (tar-papering)? Thanks!