When is it better to feed the bees?

As bees don’t leave their hive till warm weather returns, it’s important to help them survive and overcome the difficulties the winter season brings.

As bees don’t leave their hive till warm weather returns, it’s important to help them survive and overcome the difficulties the winter season brings.

When is it better to feed the bees?

It happens that the beekeeper has left enough food for the bees to successfully overwinter. But in February, when the bees sense the approach of spring, they begin the process of brood. At this time, the honey reserves are located at the edges of the frame, and the brood is in the center. Natural instincts do not allow insects to leave the brood even for feeding. Therefore, there is a significant threat of death or exhaustion of bees from starvation.

That is why it is recommended to help bees during the cold season, and feeding bees in winter is the best option. Thus, with the arrival of spring, they will be full of energy and will be able to immediately lead an active lifestyle. Otherwise, the surviving bees will be recuperating for a long time without starting honey harvesting.

Winter syrup – healthy and nutritious

We use special syrup for feeding bees that are going into the winter months. The thick consistency recipe makes it more convenient for bees to convert the syrup into the capped honey they’ll keep for the cold season.

Boil 2.5 quarts of water. When it starts boiling, take it off the heat, add 10 pounds of white granulated sugar. Be sure that you turn off the heat. If you continue heating the sugar, it may caramelize, and it is dangerous for bees. Stir till the sugar dissolves completely.

Let the liquid cool down to room temperature and only after that start adding treatments. Mind that with this recipe you make thicker syrup as it is better for feeding bees in the winter. For medicated syrup, mix 1 teaspoon of Fumigilin-B in approximately a half cup of cool water (the medication won’t dissolve in the syrup). Fumigilin-B protects your bees against Nosema - a common bee illness. Stir the syrup while adding medication to it. Honey B Healthy would also work well. You can medicate only one or two batches when you start feeding, not more.

Any rules to follow?

The food should be given carefully so as not to disturb the peace of the bee family and prevent bees from leaving the hive. Various products are used for winter feeding: sugar syrup, honey, candy, perga, etc. The choice of product and winter feeding for bees depends on the lack of a particular component in the bees' diet.