Feeding 2:1

[kilnrat]

This is probably a dumb question but I was wondering if anyone had an educated guess as to how much weight a gallon of 2:1 feed would add to a brood box when feeding? Also on an eight frame 2-deep brood box, approx. how many frames (or lbs) of capped sugar water would be needed for an average hive to have enough food to make it through the winter in North Carolina? Finally a final question on feeding, if you have a super with capped sugar water and/or honey on top of the 2 medium deeps, will the bees relocate the food down into the brood boxes or will they try to move the cluster up into the super to have food source(s) nearby? Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[ralittlefield]

I think a gal of 2:1 would have about 7 lbs of sugar and should add about that much weight to the hive.

[psfred]

The water alone weights almost 8 pounds, I'd think at least 10 and maybe 11 pounds per gallon. Honey is about 12 pounds per gallon, I think (could be wrong).

Depending on the altitude and severity of your winter, figure 80 to 100 pounds of honey per hive, more if you have severe winters. Rule of thumb is top deep completely full of honey and four frames in the bottom, plus honey most of the brood area that isn't capped.

Peter

[ralittlefield]

The water alone weights almost 8 pounds, I'd think at least 10 and maybe 11 pounds per gallon.

A gallon of 2:1 syrup is 2/3 sugar and 1/3 water. To have 8 lbs of water would leave no room for sugar.

The water will be evaporated, so only the sugar will add weight to the hive. I think that would be around 7 LBS.

[jadell]

Anyways...we are around the same parallel, but I'm in the mountains. I had a couple colonies do fine in ten frame deeps last year. I don't think they will relocate the food down if everything is stacked normally, but will set up the winter cluster according to store location. I don't really think you should worry yet, we are getting ready for another flow here. If they are light in a few weeks, I would begin feeding. A double deep setup should be more than enough for your location. I don't really know how much weight a gallon of 2:1 adds until I lift it later in the year.

[BEES4U]

The following URL should help answer your question.
It has many more applications and it's in metric or English conversions.
Please notice that the energy of removing the excess water is noted.
http://www.beekeeping.com/goodies/conversions_bee.htm

[Keth Comollo]

I always figure that a gallon of 2:1 will add about 10 lbs to a hive. The sugar and water weigh more than that but it does evaporate down to about 20%.