When making sugar syrup for bees, I often read "do not heat or boil the solution as it kills bees." Is this statement true or a perpetuated myth? Then how is fondant not a killer as it's boiled and whipped sugar syrup? (what am I missing?)

Greetings, This is my first year of beekeeping, and my first post ever in a beekeeping forum - so please be patient with me ^.^ In a nutshell, my biggest question is: Can my hive survive on nothing but fondant for 12 more weeks of winter? the rest of the details follow... I am in a region...

Hello, I am new to the forum and hope to get some help to my questions regarding winter feeding, to which I am new as well... In both of my hives today the clusters were in the top super with now empty frames, so I fed them each a zip lock bag with honey and slits cut to give access to the...

Hi All, There is a lack of consensus in our bee group about feeding in cold weather. As you know most all of us have seen a colder than normal winter. And although I went in with a full super of honey, I wanted to provide fondant just in case... So the question is with fondant do you place it...

My fondant-making has been problematic. Last year I gave up heating at 236F from my notes, and this year I see why: I hit a stop at 236. I heated for an additional half-hour at least with no temp change over gas heat and constantly stirring. It also remains granular, not sure it that's normal...

I am looking for a recipe for fondant for the winter. I have a top bar hive and would like to somehow have it attached to a top bar. I may build another false back and have it molded to that somehow? My bees need some feeding this winter since they have such a shortage on honey. Any help would...

When beekeepers talk about "fondant" they're not referring to some small can of flavored/colored cake material. When purchased, a 50 pound block looks like this: The list of ingredients is fairly short: If made at home it looks something like this: Note: Fondant is not granular in...

Hello, I am a new beekeeper this year in fall i had to consolidate my 2 hives as they didn't have enough honey. So i need to feed a local beekeeper in my area suggested getting the fondant from a local candy store that he gets it from. I ordered and now have 30 pounds of fondant, but it...

I have prepared 10 pound bags of sugar by soaking them in about one cup of water and allowing them to harden. To fit in a 5-frame nuc box I cut the opening in the side. A piece of wax paper or plastic wrap is used to hold the sugar in the bag while inverting the bag into a baking pan/dish...

Hello! I'm looking for suggestions on bee's feed during these winter months. I live in Central Maryland and the winter so far has had a fair share of warm days (60degrees) and cold days like today ( 30 degrees) I put fondant patties in the hives about mid November. Upon checking...

I was feeding my bees 2:1 syrup up until the cold hit, and we started having freezing spells with nights down into the 20's and dustings of snow. So I put dry sugar in my hives a'la Mountain Camp. The bees seem to be eating it so far, but I will soon need to refill, as the warmer weather...

Decided to try this is a small batch before making huge amount for my Nucs. Mixed 2 quarts of water to 20 lb sugar. (should be 1 quart to 20lb?) put a little Pink Salt few drops of various Essential oils. Added 40 Grains(2.6g) of citric acid heated to 236 F. Thing turned to be gum.. I...

Hi, I was wondering if you could treat for nosema successfully by mixing it with fondant? I have come to hate feeding sugar syrup and I want to start feeding fondant. Nathan

This is a dumb question, but will bees consume hard sugar candy, just as that is a hard candy board?

So my first attempt at fondant seemed to go fine, but a couple questions: 1) One of the recipes I saw said to NOT stir after boil starts and it's heating. Why? 2) Mine came out what seemed about right, but from one of the trays especially it breaks more easily than I thought. I'm sure the...