Fall and winter feeding recipes ?

[Bradley_Bee]

This year is the first year i've decided to feed my bees. I have about 100 swarms. I don't want to spend money on corn syrup. I'd rather go with just a fifty fifty mix of sugar. However I have a few questions... Is there a process that to making it . or is it just a fifty fifty of water and sugar? and if so what kind of sugar works the best.. How about a pollen substitute recipe?

[Motown]

Use the ratio of 1 cup water to 1 cup sugar or 1 pound to 1 pound. Combine in pot, heat slowly towards boil, when it turns clear, remove from the stove and wait for it to cool down to room temperature. Sugar from cane sugar or from sugar beets works just as well as they are chemically equivalent. Try Costco or some other big box store that sells sugar in 25lbs bags for the best price.

[DRUR]

Bring your water to a boil, then pour the sugar in and remove from heat. Stir until the mixture becomes clear. IMO you should not heat sugar syrup, as it could cause later crystalization.

With a 1-1 solution you will have no problem completely mixing the syrup. With 2-1, I stir about 30 seconds after pouring the sugar into boiling water, then I turn off the heat. The sugar will disolve but may take a couple of minutes stirring.

I would recommend that you go here (Michael Bush's web site) for a good discussion on feeding:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm

[Bradley_Bee]

Thank you for this quick information.

[RayMarler]

for one to one syrup there is no need to heat or boil the water, but whether you do or not, it's best to mix the syrup and let it sit a day before using.

For pollen feeding, I use strait pollen mixed with just enough of my sugar syrup to get it to hold together in a patty and place the patty on top of frames between two brood boxes. If you only have a single brood box, put it on top of it's frames and mash it down between the top bars so the top cover will still go on. I feel that just pollen without any of the added stuff that comes in commercial substitute is much better for the bees.

[Motown]

Bring your water to a boil, then pour the sugar in and remove from heat. Stir until the mixture becomes clear. IMO you should not heat sugar syrup, as it could cause later crystallization.

I would recommend that you go here (Michael Bush's web site) for a good discussion on feeding:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm

Crystallization only happens with prolonged boiling, where the syrup goes above the boiling point of water. Sugar is a saccharides, prolonged heat can break down the double carbon bond to make two mono saccharides that can crystallize easier.

I don't like pouring sugar into boiling water due to the perceived dangers.

But that's just my opinion....

[LenInNorCal]

What about getting a container, 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water. Cover. Shake. It's clear, it's good!
Why heat, cool, etc. It's just that I am lazy and all that sounds like too much work!

[Countryboy]

I don't want to spend money on corn syrup. I'd rather go with just a fifty fifty mix of sugar.

I'm confused. Why are you willing to spend money on sugar, but opposed to spending money on corn syrup - when corn syrup is cheaper? When you factor in that bees burn over a pound of sugar to evaporate a quart of water, there is very little benefit to feeding 50/50 for a fall or winter feed. The thickest solution possible will require the least energy for the bees to turn it into honey. Corn syrup comes straight from the bucket comparable to 2:1.

[Bradley_Bee]

I don't want to spend money on corn syrup. I'd rather go with just a fifty fifty mix of sugar.

I'm confused. Why are you willing to spend money on sugar, but opposed to spending money on corn syrup - when corn syrup is cheaper? When you factor in that bees burn over a pound of sugar to evaporate a quart of water, there is very little benefit to feeding 50/50 for a fall or winter feed. The thickest solution possible will require the least energy for the bees to turn it into honey. Corn syrup comes straight from the bucket comparable to 2:1.

Alright i'll be honest. Like I said i've never fed my bees. Nor has my family. However im looking to keep more bees alive and strong. The more research I do (another thing my family doesn't do) the more I find all signs pointing to feeding for stronger ,alive.. , bees. I haven't checked many prices on corn syrup , i mainly assumed that with shipping and all it would be more expensive. Any recommendations for suppliers?

[alpha6]

I don't want to spend money on corn syrup. I'd rather go with just a fifty fifty mix of sugar.

I'm confused. Why are you willing to spend money on sugar, but opposed to spending money on corn syrup - when corn syrup is cheaper? When you factor in that bees burn over a pound of sugar to evaporate a quart of water, there is very little benefit to feeding 50/50 for a fall or winter feed. The thickest solution possible will require the least energy for the bees to turn it into honey. Corn syrup comes straight from the bucket comparable to 2:1.

I don't find a price difference when using sugar and mixing it over corn syrup. I don't use corn syrup cause from everything I have been reading it is toxic to bees and can really affect bee heath. But this subject has been hit on many times in other threads. Additionally, it depends where you are as to how quick it takes to evaporate a quart of water...here it will evaporate on its own fairly quickly as we have such low humidity.

[Countryboy]

Gene Weitzel penciled it out a while back, comparing carb values.

There is a local guy who sells bee supplies, and I can get HFCS for 40 cents a pound, and it comes in a food grade bucket I can reuse for honey. The cheapest I can find sugar is Walmart at roughly 50 cents a pound - and then I have to cost out my labor to mix the syrup, whereas the HFCS comes premixed comparable to 2:1.

Like I said i've never fed my bees. Nor has my family. However im looking to keep more bees alive and strong. The more research I do (another thing my family doesn't do) the more I find all signs pointing to feeding for stronger ,alive.. , bees.

Don't forget protein patties - I've heard commercial beekeepers say you get the most bang for your buck feeding patties in the fall. Fall feeding made a noticeable impact in their overwinter survival.

[Paraplegic Racehorse]

My syrup recipes:

In a five-gallon bucket.

1:1 - 4x 5lb bags cane sugar + 3 gallons tap-hot water.
2:1 - 6x 5lb bags cane sugar + 2 gallons water @ roiling boil (cool over night)

If adding HBH, use 1/4 cup per bucket.

Fondant:
mix by hand 1qt 2:1 syrup and 1.5lb powdered sugar, pour into mold, allow to set three days
1tsp HBH, before adding dry ingredient, if using it
can sub .5lb powdered sugar for equal weight soy flour or other protein ingredient