Feeding bees – sugar // Part One
When feeding bees Make up and use feeds of good quality pure sugar. White granulated sugar is the most suitable source. For convenience, especially for larger scale beekeepers, obtain a prepared bee feed from a suitable commercial source. Avoid feeding honey as it carries the risk of spreading bee diseases and the odour increases the likelihood of robbing. Use the right method, time and type of feeder for the task. Avoid spilling or leaving syrup open to bees in the apiary. Take care to avoid robbing. Pollen and water may also need to be supplied
Bee candy Candy or bakers fondant was first used to feed bees in the 18th century because it was the purest form of sugar then available. Today candy is used by many beekeepers to top up honeybee colonies in winter and for use in package bees, queen mating mini nuclei and queen introduction cages. It is best purchased from a bee supply merchant. If you wish to make your own recipes can be found in relevant text books but consistency tends to be variable when home made.
Making sugar syrup To make sugar syrup use white granulated sugar. With modern production methods it makes no difference if it was sourced from cane or beet. Do not use brown or raw sugars as they contain impurities. The syrup should be made up in the proportion of 1 kg. of white granulated sugar to 630 ml. of water or 2 lb. sugar to 1 pt. of water. There is no need to boil the mixture but using hot or warm water helps. Stir regularly to remove the air bubbles and dissolve all the crystals. When fully dissolved the mixture is clear and a very pale straw colour. If syrup is stored for any length of time then a scummy black fungal growth may appear. This can be prevented by adding a little thymol. Thymol does not dissolve readily in water but a solution can be made up in a small sealable bottle. Fill it to one third with thymol crystals* and top the bottle up with surgical spirit. Add 2.5 ml. of this solution to 4.5 l. of sugar syrup or half a teaspoon to a gallon of syrup. *Obtainable from bee equipment suppliers. For some feeding, usually when it is for immediate use by the colony, thin syrup is used. This contains twice the quantity of water and is best made up for use as required. Sugar syrup can be stored and moved around in suitable clean plastic drums. In the apiary a plastic watering can is a useful device for filling feeders.
