[Hayseed]

What is the advantage of feeding 1:1 syrup during the year?

I just changed to 2:1 and although the bees seem to take it up more slowly, is is twice as concentrated. It also seems it would take less effort for the workers to evaporate the excess water.

Also, wouldn't 2:1 be less likely to mold and sour than 1:1?

Hayseed

 

[stonybrook]

Hey Hay,

Basically one feeds 1:1 syrup in the spring and summer to promote brood rearing. Basically, a 1:1 solution mimics a nectar flow and induces the queen into egg laying. Of course the bees will convert this into a type of honey and store it also. Again, the main idea with 1:1 is to get the queen laying and build up and form strong hives.

A 2:1 (or even 'thicker') solution is more often used in the fall, and the main objective here is to provide the bees with a food source for overwintering. As a general rule, the queen will not begin egg laying when one feeds a 2:1 solution, and the workers will concentrate more on storage of this solution.

thats the basics!

 

[Michael Bush]

>Also, wouldn't 2:1 be less likely to mold and sour than 1:1?

Yes, 2:1 keeps much better than 1:1.

 

[Chef Isaac]

So.... my question is if you are feeding them now with 2:1, is the queen going to stop laying? Should one continue with 1:1 to encrouage the queen to lay?

 

[Michael Bush]

No, 2:1 won't stop the queen. It just isn't as good at stimulating her to START laying.