Feeding Our Bees In Winter

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

Hi from southern New Zealand 👋😃 great topic. Fondant is very expensive here in central Otago but I still use it and I've found hive alive fondant to be very beneficial, but yes, very expensive. Unfortunately we can't buy the dadant Patty's here. Ecrotek makes a similar product but to be candid, I wasn't that impressed with it myself, it's very similar to the dadant Patty's but I found it dried out very rapidly in my hives and I don't see that issue with the hive alive fondant. The plastic waste is a nuisance, I agree, and I find the bee's don't generally eat the corners, so now I cut them off and add the fondant from them into any syrup batches I make. Speaking of batches, I was extracting honey for one of the hobbyists I'm helping the other day and we were talking about the different colors of honey and he didn't believe a word when I told him American mountain mint honey was green, so I put your video about it on for him to watch 😂 he's a believer in green honey now, he really enjoyed your video about it 😂👍👋

[@RUNARIAAPIS-di7nb]

Yes it works. You got it. Thank you . Not only for that. Thank you for helping me so many many times. On my way getting a better beekeeper and beside learning some english. Thank you Sir

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Hello Bob I started using those AP Patties here while back an yes my bees take to them very well an they are a lot better on me also . I went into my colonies last week checking for stores an found three clusters probably a little bigger than a tennis ball but I think they will be ok . Those Mountains sure looked good . That is a beautiful place. Thanks

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Spectacular looking winter clusters. I’m envious. Putting protein on before the hard part of our winter (March) would result in a mess. When you are brooding, we are hardly hanging on!!

[@bobbinnie9872]

I understand. We'll also have periodic cleansing flights here which makes a big difference. Loving your antique equipment by the way. Did I say antique? That engine is only two years older than me!!

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

@ 😂😂😂 my kids call me “vintage”, you called yourself “antique”, ha ha ha that made me laugh

[@bobbinnie9872]

@@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog I like the sound of "vintage" better.

[@georgetaylor9154]

Same bro, same. In southern eastcoast maine, not as hard as the great north but still😅

[@dianetaylor6751]

Seems like half my hives went into winter with very small clusters. They did that last winter too and I lost only 4%. I will be sweating it the next 3 days for sure....neg teens and high winds inbound so wind chills in the neg 20s. No pollen sub added to mine either. If they can't fly every few days then it would be a very bad idea. Yah just never know what winter here will do!

[@richardnoel3141]

Love your honesty and transparency! It’s such a good insight in to the reality of beekeeping. About to do the same in my yards and I am sure they won’t be as good as yours! Great video. 🙏💯🤩🐝

[@claybunner1059]

Your bees are looking pretty strong for this time of year. Love your videos I always learn something from them.

[@SIBEEMAN]

Good morning Bob, thanks for another wonderful video.

[@schammond8993]

Morning Bob, I look forward to the Sunday morning "class". As it seems I come out of winter a step behind the girls your videos keep me on track. Not to mention the education. Thanks so much, Susan NW Georgia Thanks so much. Susan NW Georgia

[@Lsmith-ly2cm]

Another informative video , thank you Bob.

[@nate-408]

Great work guys your bees are looking great down there! Ours are fairing pretty well here in WesternNC. We'll be headed down soon for some equipment and supplies so we might see you guys then! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom as always.

[@framcesmoore]

Ha this was great this is the first video I have seen u working bees in the winter. It helped me seeing your bees what they look like. Thanks for everything have a blessed week

[@lindseyhomesteadfarm2653]

Great looking bees. I have used globel patties, hive alive patties and hive alive fondant and the bees love them all.

[@brianbennett4374]

Hello Bob enjoy your videos Thanks for sharing with us 😊

[@altaylor293]

We have a forecast for temps in the single digits for the next few days. Checked my bees yesterday, mid 50s and fed where needed. These big temp swings make it hard on the bees and the beekeepers. Thanks for another great video.

[@aileensmith3062]

Fourteen degrees this morning and a high in the mid thirties. Once it warms up a bit we plan on putting out our first patties. Although we need to make up our mind quick and which will we be using. As always Thank You for another fun and informative video!

[@charlaemery1811]

I appreciate you’re not heavily endorsing commercial patties over homemade. I made fondant this year with some Hive Alive added and got them on before the temperatures dropped to a week of teen to 20 lows. Looking forward to hearing your presentations at NETX Bee conference on Saturday

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks, looking forward to being there.

[@jimhegarty9561]

Hello Bob, Thank you for this video.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hello and thanks.

[@timfeckley1689]

23* sunny and no wind I had to peek to make sure they had plenty of hive alive still and got them wrapped up before the Siberian express comes through first part of the week, wish Ian would keep his weather up there😂Wife and I enjoyed our visit with you last month

[@tonywestsbees6042]

Looking good. I can't wait to get in to check mine again, they were hanging on and heavy at New Years but i suspect i'll lose some small NUCs before this winter is over. This has been the harshest winter for much of the country in years. Southern Ohio here.

[@clarkaudiss9683]

Love your videos! What tips could you offer for wintering bees in the cold northern states like mine (SD)? We get -20F up here!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Luckily, I don't have much experience with that.

[@robertstwalley3662]

-5F here at 11am this morning in NE Iowa, Thanks for the bee fix, I don't dare crack anything here for about 2 more months.

[@timlewis9873]

Good morning Bob and BRHC. I use the Hive Alive fondent patties, my bees take that before their honey. Saves the honey for spring. Have a good week and I will see you next Sun.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

I eat ice cream before oatmeal too😂 HA is flavored sugar, like my ice cream🎉

[@Tinycreekbeecompany]

Great video Bob! I am not far from you and wondering when would you put pollen patties and sugar syrup on for an early build up? I am scheduled for your queens first week in April and wanting to split. Is middle of February to early for single brood hives to start pollen and sugar?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Depending on just where you are located this could help soon. Keep in mind that syrup may not be utilized well until temperatures rise. Adding pollen patties with a lot of sugar could help as soon as the cold spell coming next week ends. Also, incoming Maple pollen will be very stimulating and normally starts coming in around mid February in the Clarkesville to Hollywood area and early March around Dillard and Otto.

[@Tinycreekbeecompany]

@ thank you for your response. I am in Oconee County SC so your suggestion on the middle of February is when I was thinking about starting pollen sub and syrup.

[@HaqnawazAllahbakash]

Good ❤❤❤

[@Tinycreekbeecompany]

I am wondering Bob when would you put pollen patties and sugar syrup on for an early build up? I am scheduled for your queens first week in April and wanting to split. Is middle of February to early for single brood hives to start pollen and sugar?

[@peterlightbody8443]

I watched "Bee talks " and your were introduced as the godfather of beekeeping , very interested video I learnt a few things , that amount of knowledge you have that you can rattle off , is just amazing , you mentioned you don't like writing and your daughter helped you write the letter , you would be nearing 73 years old , any thoughts of putting pen to paper and writing a book on beekeeping before all that knowledge goes west .Peter 🇦🇺

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Peter. I have a friend helping me with that now. It might take a while but hopefully something will come of it. Thanks.

[@beekeepersguideforpollenid5194]

Dear Bob Thank you for your useful and comprehensive videos to all beekeepers around the world. My question, is it harmful to feed pollen patties during Apivar treatment? Thanks from Lebanon Mohammad El-Labban

[@bobbinnie9872]

I think that it is OK.

[@rajbeekie7124]

Cold temp is relative. As I am looking at this video from St. Paul the temp is -12 degrees right now. Wind chill is -30 degrees. On Monday it will get colder. I am hoping my bees survive.

[@robertcaudill1660]

After our 5 inch snow we had here in central Arkansas I had a Rugby ball sized frozen area on my cover, they seem to be coping well, and slowly working on a hive alive fondant

[@GranadoHoney]

Thank you for sharing

[@CentralKyBees]

Lookin good Bob. The weather here is supposed to get bitter cold. Single digit and negative windchills. I put sugar bricks on back early December hopefully they are still doing ok food wise. Its snowing now and 25° so its too chilly to check. Fingers crossed

[@toddknecht2106]

I use AP-23 as well! Bob, at what temperature do you decide to not open hives? I’m in NEPA and temps only got to 35 and cloudy/windy so I didn’t open! I put pattie’s on December 15 I’m sure they’re in need of more. I generally put a pattie on once a month thru winter. All single deeps also. Thank you for your content!

[@bobbinnie9872]

I would not break the cluster at 35 but I think it would be OK to lift the lid on a single and quickly give them a warm patty on top.

[@toddknecht2106]

@ thank you!

[@karenklema9416]

Here in Ohio and this year i have in December and will after this cold front exits, the warm weather seems like they consume more. I just think it’s best to open and feed even when it’s not ideal weather.

[@markbooth8458]

Hello Bob. I use 80 20 bakers fondant. It’s cheaper and the bees take it really well for me.

[@OurGraceFarmLLC]

Our temps are dipping down now (eastern Iowa). We’ve hardly had any snow (I haven’t had to use my snowblower at all). We had 2 days this week the bees were able to cleanse. They hadn’t been out since the end of December. So far we’ve only lost 3 nucs. I was able to clean those out the other day. 2 of them had too small of a cluster. 1 had a lot of poop inside (thinking dysentery or nosema). All the production colonies are still going. This morning is -4F. I won’t add any protein here until very end of February or beginning of March. Right now just adding sugar (mountain camp method). Our 45 day forecast shows temperature swings which always concerns me. That last apiary looks like a beautiful spot. Take care!

[@lenturtle7954]

I try to get my double deep hives to 140-150lbs by mid oct . If they are kept warm with R20 insulated wraps . Big hives will easily make it to april.and come thru winter large . They stay at 14-21°C as a cluster of 4 hives wrapped . I noticed the dark bees definately fly in lower temps than the Italians we used to run .

[@JoshBishop-kt6pp]

You got me started using Strong Microbials with Apis. I tried finding some in your store but I think you're out. Thanks for the weekly videos Bob

[@bobbinnie9872]

They are not currently offering that in patty form or I would probably be selling and using it.

[@JoshBishop-kt6pp]

@@bobbinnie9872 Thanks for the update. I was able to grab a couple cases from Hidden Hollow Honey in Indiana. Hopefully they'll start making them again.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

I agree Bob. HA has done a great marketing job giving it to KZbin influencers to talk up. Bees love it, its like me and ice cream🎉 I guess there is some data that shows a small benefit to the extracts they use but not sure justifies the cost. Sugar bricks are pretty easy to make and the bees like them. As some one else mentioned the bees will eat the HA and leave honey. I do the same with apinach and 🎉. 😂😂

[@OrcasIslandBrian]

Watching this from Kona Hawaii. Wondering how my bees are doing in Washington state.

[@bobbinnie9872]

My guess is that if they had a choice in the matter they would wish they were with you.

[@davidkoch733]

Here in N.California the temps today are 63 f so I went into one of my 2 hive deeps and found the top box was packed frame to frame with capped sugar water honey. Should I take a few frames out and replace with comb or foundation or leave till spring? Thank You.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I would leave there. Once brood rearing begins in earnest, and if it is a good colony, they will burn through it.

[@douglasblankenship7381]

Can you purchase the lids you are using with the bucket feeders or do you have a video on how to make them?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We show how we make them in "Feeding Bees Part 3" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJu4m61-edaIqqM You can also order them through our store at 706 782 6722.

[@carloscrenz9433]

Nosotros también tenemos colores de miel en una parte se sacar el colo del dulce de leche espesa dulce al final de probarla da un poco de amargo pero rica si le creo de la verde 👏👏👏

[@ShawnBiddle-u8n]

Hive Alive is definitely worth the extra money. Because its backed by scientific studies that prove the products claims. And Thymol is an ingredient which will help against the mites!

[@Peekul1]

In the fall, I mixed 1 cup ultra bee per gallon of 2:1 sugar syrup. 600 lbs of syrup for 13 colonies. Hoping for the best this spring.

[@mikerevendale4810]

The bees look great! These cold days of winter are made all the more bearable knowing that Spring is right around the corner; that is, here in the Midwest and the South. On a serious note: back injuries are too common. I drag around an old deep box to set heavy brood boxes upon during inspections. Setting them on the grass, or on the hive's lid on the ground, is too hard on the back.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I occasionally do the same.

[@carloscrenz9433]

Hola Bob que lindo cuántas cosas modernas tiene para alimentar nosotros en nuestra Sona no salíamos del jarabe de azúcar lo que usa usted es algo increíble gracias por su video 👏👏👏👏🐝🐝

[@tonyfox5422]

When you crack apart 2 boxes, are you concerned when you put back together that the propolis doesn’t reseal any gaps.

[@bobbinnie9872]

It would be ideal if it did seal back but hopefully the crack sizes are minimal and won't cause problems.

[@cristianstoian8805]

Saluti da Italia!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Saluti!

[@wadebarnes6720]

I'm a little ways from you but not a long ways I usually have one swarm my second week of February then by the end of the first of March it's on if you don't keep up with them

[@markridgemr]

Hi from southern NJ: When did you feed patties previously for this yard? We're hitting the FL Keys in a couple of weeks so trying to guage. -Thanks

[@bobbinnie9872]

Three weeks previous to this video.

[@frostt1010]

I’d like to see how you mix your own winter patty. Feel like you could make those way cheaper.

[@bobbinnie9872]

You're right, they are cheaper and I'll try to show that.

[@jonathanknisely5075]

Bob: Why not reverse boxes in double deeps when there was no brood in the bottom deep super?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We'll rearrange the brood nest when pollen begins to come in and they begin brood rearing in earnest.

[@MerrittHoney]

Good morning Bob. What’s that white stuff in front of the pallets? Lol. I never get to see much of that here!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Good morning Ron. If it turns white in Sopchoppy Florida we're all in trouble.

[@snackman508]

Good morning Bob. How often are you putting food on your light colonys. Im not trying to stimulate them but dont want them to starve either.

[@bobbinnie9872]

If they are light we try to not let them run out. A few of the colonies in the first part of the video were getting light so they will be checked often.

[@apic.algerie]

جيد جدا .من شمال افريقيا . ماهو تركيز المحلول السكري لتغذية الخلايا .وهل يتغير حسب الحاجة .شكرا بوب .

[@bobbinnie9872]

Google won't translate.

[@ГерманПчеловод]

I food them sugar in August about 20 kg and no feeding till April.

[@lenturtle7954]

It blows my mind how different your seasonal work is to ours . My bugs just got another 4" of snow now its -30 c. No pollen for me until april .

[@bobbinnie9872]

We're on different planets!

[@melobees5884]

Hello, do you know the percentage of protein in the Manlake patties? There is a company in France that says it should be 3% protein in winter patties. I make my own patties in the spring, which have been working extremely well, but I haven't tried in the winter. Waiting for temperatures to be around 9 Celsius to try the patties with 3% protein.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I've not used them and I notice they don't say what that percentage is on their website. I wonder if a percentage point one way or the other would make a large difference

[@melobees5884]

@bobbinnie9872 That is the problem we don't know what we are buying. Maybe buying expensive sugar...that's why I like to make my own, and a few pence in thousands of patties is enough to go on a holiday!

[@Drewjober]

I used the hive alive and after the bees emptied it out I flipped it and poured sugar in it and a splash of water and the bees used it on a hive that was light

[@MaryHarbage]

So, heard that bees should only get 4% protein in patty vs 15 to 20% in Spring for build up. Have you found that to be true?,

[@MaryHarbage]

4% in patty for Winter vs 15% in Spring. Clarification.

[@bobbinnie9872]

In our area overwintering bees can benefit from small amounts of protein in the sugar patty if there is no pollen in the combs. When brood rearing begins in earnest they will need larger amounts wether it's in the form of pollen (preferred) or supplement.

[@johnlehr1036]

Are there any concerns that the AP23 patties contain HFCS?

[@bobbinnie9872]

It is a small amount so I don't think it's an issue.

[@johnlehr1036]

@bobbinnie9872 Thanks for the help. I really appreciate your videos. I'm a small backyard beekeeper and I learn a lot from what you show and teach.

[@BeeOleg1890]

👍🇺🇦🐝

[@shevlin2650]

Bob, I noticed in a previous video that you are going to Pol-line Bees. Are you getting away from your Caucasian bees to go to the Pol-Line bees? SML BEEs / SWVA

[@bobbinnie9872]

I wouldn't say we're moving to Pol-line bees just yet. I'm trying out several lines of bees that we may incorporate into our breeding program. We still have a substantial population of Caucasians.

[@RUNARIAAPIS-di7nb]

Mr. Steppler knows how to . His videos are with original audio .

[@bobbinnie9872]

I think I got it done. Let me know

[@RUNARIAAPIS-di7nb]

Sorry but till now the latest three Videos are still AI translated. Just for the fun of it an exemple .. AI translate Nukes to Atombomben in German . 😂 And you sell them in spring

[@bobbinnie9872]

@RUNARIAAPIS-di7nb Hmm, that could be profitable. I've turned auto translate off on my channel. Hopefully there won't be a problem going forward. I have another video coming out Sunday morning. Please let me know if the problem is still there. Thanks for your help.

[@robertdemers5125]

Good Morning Bob, I’m really late this morning.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Good morning sir!

[@armanpoloyan8458]

Hy Mr. Bob I use German recipe of sugar patties made from poudered sugar ,yeast and water,I can send You the recipe if You want.

[@bobbinnie9872]

We have to be careful with some types of powdered sugar in this country because some have starch added. Please share and explain what benefits the yeast adds.

[@beebob1279]

No bricks on your covers Bob?

[@bobbinnie9872]

That is the only yard in the open that hadn't received them yet. (I'll blame it on someone else)😇

[@3Beehivesto300]

Will hive beetles 🪲 get into the winter party with the minimal pollen in the south?

[@bobbinnie9872]

So far I haven't seen any but we also don't have bunches of them. I definitely see them show up when using regular pollen supplement patties.

[@radsk5]

17 below plus 20 miles an hour wind northeast South Dakota nobody is working bees 🫣

[@bobbinnie9872]

A good day to stay inside.😎