Addition Of Sugar To Mountain Camped Hive

I'm looking for some suggestions. I have a hive that I have twice added four pound bags of sugar to by the Mountain Camp method. Even though I tried feeding them with 2:1 syrup last fall, they were reluctant to take it for some reason; it was not rancid nor did it have mold growing in it. Because they are now taking so much sugar, I have decided to add a ten pound bag of sugar to the hive. The problem is it the bees are in the remaining sugar. It is about 25 F outside and I don't want to smoke the bees to chase them down between the top bars so I can add the newspaper and sugar, which might cause the bees to break cluster as the cluster is likely just underneath the sugar wher the bees are feeding. I though about laying the newspaper on top of the remaining sugar and bees, tapping the newspaper above the bees to try to chase most of them down, and then add the sugar. Does this sound like a good idea; any other suggestions.

As they still have sugar available, perhaps you could wait for a warmer day to add more sugar?

I agree that if they still have sugar left in place it would be best to wait for a warmer day.

To answer your questions, I don't think tapping on newspaper to chase them down would be the best approach. It may produce a defensive response from the bees rather than chasing them down. If you want to clear the sugar of bees, one puff of smoke across the top of the sugar should prompt the bees to scatter and head down into the frames below. Again, just one puff of smoke across the top. If you use the smoker correctly the cluster will not break below the sugar. It may cause a few minutes of confusion but they will settle down very quickly and no damage will be done. I know some may disagree with me, but I've done it, it works, with no harm to the colony.

This time of year in your area there is probably very little, if any, brood for the bees to protect. They may lose a little heat for a few minutes but it beats starvation.

You might want to try wiggling the paper back & forth a couple times after you lay it on the bees (but before you pour any sugar on it). That usually works for me. I usually add 1/2" inch of sugar and repeat; usually by that time they've moved down in between the frames and you can pour on the rest of your sugar without squashing any.

I have used a piece of newspaper and lightly drug it over the bees also have used some long grass and tickeedl them until they moved, it doesn't take much.

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Originally Posted by Rdavis183

I have a hive that I have twice added four pound bags of sugar to by the Mountain Camp method.

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Isn't spring around the corner for you?

Early maples won't start blooming until mid to late February. Our main nectar flow isn't until May. The bees are going to be needing sugar for quite awhile yet, so they have likely exhausted their stores. As I mentioned earlier, they were reluctant to take the 2:1 syrup for some reason this past fall and now they have gotten themselves stuck eating sugar.

I checked again today and they appear to have enough sugar until next weekend when it is supposed to be a little warmer. I will add more sugar next weekend. Thanks to all that have responded.

I just rip a piece of paper to cover the section they have eaten, then slowly pour a little sugar onto it, they seem to crawl down between the frames when a little weight is on the paper.