How to feed honey in the winter?

**Kelbor** · 01-07-2013, 02:20 PM

Well, one of my hives is feeling a bit light and I was wondering what the best technique to feed them back some of their honey without a top feeder would be. Ideally, I would like to crystallize it to minimize moisture in the hive. I added three pounds of sugar to three pounds of honey and then wrapped it - then fed it like fondant (in the piece of parchment paper I wrapped it in partly opened). It seemed 'solid' enough when I made it but after throwing a piece of it in the hive it started to bleed honey. Oops!. The bees are on it and it appears that they like it but honey is oozing out of the bottom of the hive (oh man...). The other pouches I made at the same time also started to bleed honey as well even though they are stored inside...after about a week. Am I going at this all wrong? My thinking is that a crystallized honey product would be better to feed them then straight sugar. How do you accelerate crystallization? I thought dry sugar would do the trick....

Thanks!

**Maryland Beekeeper** · 01-07-2013, 02:45 PM

try 3#'s sugar 2 1# honey, makes bluebees honeyballs

**Acebird** · 01-07-2013, 02:46 PM

Keep in mind that crystallized honey will still flow unlike a sugar cube. Also if it takes on moisture it will ferment.
If the honey is not sealed in comb I would have to side with those that feed sugar in the winter months.

**Kelbor** · 01-07-2013, 03:31 PM

Thanks all,
Yeah, I am aware of the fermented honey/sugar combo....but wont dry sugar, if it takes on moisture, also ferment? It would seem that the honey with its antimicrobial properties would not create a great environment for 'rot'. Of course, this may be incorrect thinking and I am always open to new information/knowledge.

Maryland - Are there any reported issues with bluebees honeyballs that you know about?

**delber** · 01-07-2013, 07:50 PM

i did dry sugar on top (Mountain camp method) last year and again this year. It worked great last winter. The only thing that happened was it turned hard. I mean like a rock. I know of people that have done this and then took it off early spring to make sugar syrup to feed them to give them that boost with out any problems. I don't think fermentation or going bad is an issue. I can't speak to honeyballs. I haven't done it or tried it, but I have had frames of honey out in the summer that were uncapped and it was quite a while before they "smelled bad" but the bees still took it. I'd have to say with the temps being colder I'd think (nothing to back this up other than my thoughts) that it wouldnt' ferment very fast.

**Maryland Beekeeper** · 01-07-2013, 09:51 PM

they disappear quick apparently, no issues that I know of, I think risk of fermenting is small if you believe they require assistance to first flow, I have considered a large ziplock w/ pinholes in line w/ frame gaps for a Warre I had, insulation and food in one, like nature intended

Drew

**Ramona** · 01-08-2013, 05:55 AM

We feed straight crystallized honey in winter by putting on paper plates. Dixie makes a good one with slightly deeper sides. Bottom of plate gets a few slashes with the hive tool before setting it on top of the bars.

For hives with grain bag inner covers, gently press grain bag across surface of honey to keep bees from getting stuck. Put telescoping cover on gently as well so honey doesn't squish out. For other set ups cover surface of honey with wax paper before giving it to the bees. Use a shim to lift covers from the plates if you have top entrances or use wooden inner covers.

The bees chew their way up through the plate from between the bars and don't have to leave the cluster the way they do with baggie feeding.

I have had good luck getting honey to crystallized fairly quickly by stirring and pushing through a strainer introducing air bubbles. This was honey that had never been heated or filtered.

Ramona