Feeding Bees - Tips & Techniques

[@jimhughes6794]

It is very interesting to see how people do things in different parts or the country. When I make a two to one sugar syrup, I use the same one gallon jug as you but, I fill it with hot water from the tap. Then I pour it into a 5 gallon food grade bucket. Next I pour in the sixteen pounds of sugar, insert my drywall mixing paddle into my hand drill and mix the sugar and water together for a few minutes and let it sit overnight. I find it is almost always completely dissolved and if not, I simply stir it again for a minute. I also add the recommended amount of Hive Alive or like product and I can keep the solution for a year if necessary with no mold. I find this saves me a lot of time. I use round top feeders like you use jars inside the hive. I can check on the solution as necessary without disturbing the bees and add more when needed and I never disturb my “Queen Bee” by using her stove. Thanks for showing your method.

[@sweetsadiehoney]

That's a great way to mix a whole lot of feed. How do you keep it from molding? I've tried a lot of different storage methods, but the only long term I've found is "canning" it as I discuss in the video.

[@rtxhoneybees]

Amen, not tap water will do. No need to heat the water.

[@rtxhoneybees]

Sugar cane is much more domesically available than you say. From Wikipedia: Between the mid-2000s and 2019, sugarcane accounted for between 40 and 45 percent of the total sugar produced domestically and sugar beet for between 55 and 60 percent of production.

[@danholtbk7008]

What area of the country are you in?

[@sweetsadiehoney]

Midwest, near St. Louis.

[@brettwhiteMusicFan]

​@sweetsadiehoney waving from Quincy, IL near Hannibal, MO