1:1 or 2:1 sugar:water syrup?

[inga]

We just picked up a couple hives of bees (2 deeps each) last week from another beekeeper. One colony had almost zero stores, the other had plenty. The advice was to feed 2:1 sugar syrup at least to the colony without stores.

I notice that on this board, most are reporting feeding 1:1 sugar syrup.

What is the rationale behind the more concentrated/less concentrated syrup?

I'd really appreciate some enlightenment.

Inga <-- mixing another syrup batch right now. Weather forecast is fairly cool, with lots of chances of snow for the next 7 days.

[bluegrass]

1:1 is cheaper.... 2:1 is simple syrup and is the standard. It is the least amount of water that can desolve that much sugar and remain liquid. What it comes down to is the sucrose content. The more sucrose the more comb they can build. If you feed 1:1 you will have to feed twice as much to get the same amount of comb as on 2:1....This however; does not mean that they will drawl comb at max capacity.

[Phil Minnesota]

Also,

A 1 to 1 mix is supposed to stimulate brood rearing also. They won't take the syrup if its too cold outside. Maybe steal a frame from the other hive?? With cold weather feed may not be taken.

Good luck, Phil

[danameric]

Thanks for askin that! I was trying to figure it out too.

[iddee]

2:1 is used to build stores.
1:1 is used to activate brood rearing.
You will want to use 2:1 until about 30 days before your honey flow begins, then switch to 1:1 to stimulate the queen to start laying.

[MountainCamp]

2:1 syrup is generally feed in the fall and to build stores. It takes less evaporation to get the concentration completed for storage.

1:1 is feed to stimulate brood rearing, but will also be stored if feed in excess.

If you feed twice the amount of the 1:1, the cost difference would only be for the cost of the water as the total sugar / carbohydraye contain would be the same.

Bees do not consume honey or 2:1 syrup as is. It must be diluted for consumption.

[Cyndi]

I think I must be brain dead when it comes to trying to figure this out.

Someone please help me out here and tell me what this recipe is. But first, I always thought that 2:1 = 2 cups sugar to 1 cup water, is this right??

I thought I had a 2:1 recipe, which is 1 quart of water to 2 cups of sugar, or 2 quarts water to 4 cups sugar, or 4 quarts of water to 8 cups of sugar (I use this one for my 2 gallon size feeders).

Measurement chart in case anyone needs it. 1 quart = 4 cups, 2 quarts = 8 cups, 4 quarts = 16 cups.

The more I study that recipe above....its looks more like a 1:2 recipe instead of a 2:1. Am I right??

So, I'm wondering if this recipe should of read like this..... 1 quart of water to 2 quarts sugar, 2 quarts water to 4 quarts of sugar, and then 4 quarts of water to 8 quarts of sugar. Is this really the 2:1 recipe?? Actually, I got this from a beekeeping club on an internet site, but I don't remember which one.

I wished I had paid more attention in my Fractions class now, LOL!!

Disclaimer:::Please no one try to use this recipe as I think its totaly wrong.

[Oldbee]

Why is this always SO!!!!! complicated????????

[inga]

I think I must be brain dead when it comes to trying to figure this out.

Someone please help me out here and tell me what this recipe is. But first, I always thought that 2:1 = 2 cups sugar to 1 cup water, is this right??

Yes, that's what it usually means. (For example, see the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeep...s_for_the_Bees)

I thought I had a 2:1 recipe, which is 1 quart of water to 2 cups of sugar, or 2 quarts water to 4 cups sugar, or 4 quarts of water to 8 cups of sugar (I use this one for my 2 gallon size feeders).

That looks like a 1:2 recipe.

The more I study that recipe above....its looks more like a 1:2 recipe instead of a 2:1. Am I right??

I believe so.

So, I'm wondering if this recipe should of read like this..... 1 quart of water to 2 quarts sugar, 2 quarts water to 4 quarts of sugar, and then 4 quarts of water to 8 quarts of sugar. Is this really the 2:1 recipe??

I believe so.

It probably doesn't matter a lot.

I suspect the reason for feeding 2:1 in the fall is that it won't take so much bee effort to condense the syrup down to store it in cells.

[inga]

[COLOR=black]
Bees do not consume honey or 2:1 syrup as is. It must be diluted for consumption.

H'mm ... that's an interesting observation.

So where do they get the water in the winter?

I do have an idea that the 2:1 syrup is less likely to ferment because it is a fully saturated solution. If a more dilute syrup is not used quickly, it might ferment.

[bluegrass]

I use 2:1 when ever I feed. No point in multiple refillings of feeders to feed the same amount of sugar. Alot of people feed fondant and HFCS: both have a higher sucrose content than simple syrup. I am not sure that 1:1 even had a use before some beek somewhere decided to dilute simple syrup.

[MountainCamp]

During the winter they get water from condensate on inside hive parts, melting snow, and rain.

I set all of my hive for the winter up with granular sugar on paper placed on the top bars. The granular sugar absorbs moisture and the bees eat it.

http://www.mountaincampfarm.com/wst_page5.php

[Joshua2639]

Quote: (For example, see the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeep...s_for_the_Bees)

This site mentions 1:1 and 2:1 by weight. I thought it was by volume. Whats right and does it matter?

[danameric]

Quote: (For example, see the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeep...s_for_the_Bees)

This site mentions 1:1 and 2:1 by weight. I thought it was by volume. Whats right and does it matter?

I filled a 50 ml beaker to the 40 ml mark with water and it weighed 34 grams (should have weiged 40 but the beakers arn't that accurate) To the same beaker I added 40 ml of sugar and it weighed 38 grams. It appears to be pretty close. At least with the granular sugar.

Note: its best to measure your sugar and water prior to mixing. Sugar disolved in water does not take up the same amount of space as granulated.

Prior to this I tried filling a beaker to the 100 ml mark and puting sugar cubes in it till the 200 mark. The sugar ended up weighing 130 grams per 100 ml and the water ended up weighing 88 grams per 100 ml. I know beakers arn't the most accurate, but they've got to be better than a quart jar.

[danameric]

So what's best to start package bees on then? 1:1 or 2:1?

[bluegrass]

Packages need to draw comb, start them on 2:1. I think I remember from Intro Chem that it is supposed to be by weight, but I don't worry about that and just mix 2:1 by measurement.

[MichaelW]

I don't think it matters and feed what is most convenient. Bees can go get water or dry it down to make it water consistency they want.

[DoubleB]

I was taught to use 1:1 in Spring, and 2:1 in Fall. And, it is by weight. A good reference is to remember that a quart of water weighs 2 pounds, then a gallon weighs 8 pounds. 1:1 would then be 8 pounds of sugar to 8 pounds (1 gal) water. I recently mixed 36 pounds of sugar with 4 1/2 gallons (36 pounds) of water and ended up with a volume of approximately +7 gallons of sugar syrup. Warm but not boiling water will help the sugar dissolve. P.S. Hoping to get my packages tomorrow.......

[iddee]

By weight or by volume???? What difference does it make when the weight of a quart of water is the same as a quart of sugar.

[BeeAware]

5 lbs of sugar per 2 1/2 quarts of water = 1:1 For 2:1, add 10 lbs sugar per 2 1/2 quarts of water. 5 Lbs = 80 oz of sugar, 2 1/2 quarts of water =80 oz.