Make a candy board to overwinter a honeybee colony

In this video, I discuss the benefits of a candy board for overwintering a beehive. Here in SE Indiana, the winters can be long and cold. While I try to have 40+ pounds of honey on a colony before we go into the winter, sometimes, it just doesn’t happen, even if I don’t take a fall honey harvest. So, a candy board is a great way to finish carrying the colony through the winter until spring. Not only does it extend their food stores, but it wicks moisture and prevents condensation from forming above the bee cluster and dripping back down on to them. Bees can take the cold… but they can’t take being cold and wet. There is also a small hole drilled in the front of the candy board that allows excess moisture to escape the top of the hive. Not only that, but in a scenario where the lower entrance is blocked, this hole can also allow the bees out the top to do their needed cleansing flights on warmer flight days. It’s kind of like an insurance policy. It helps a hive through the winter… and any uneaten sugar that is left can be used to make your 1:1 sugar water feed in the spring.
Here's a basic recipe:
2:1 Sugar Water
8lbs sugar to 1/2 gallon of water.
1:1 Sugar Water
4lbs sugar to 1/2 gallon of water.
1 tsp. plain white vinegar (optional)*
1 tsp. HBH if you have it (optional)
If you choose to use the vinegar (as a mold inhibitor) add it to the water and never use Apple Cider Vinegar as it attracts SHB.
Now of course it’s true that cane sugar is not the best food for a bees gut. I get it… but a colony that has starved over the winter is even worse. I believe when we put bees into a box and keep them from swarming and taking a share of honey, then it’s our responsibility to do all we can to make up for their well-being. The candy board is an indispensable tool that has worked from me every year.
Resources discussed in the video:
SE Indiana Beekeepers: www.indianahone...
Morgan Ranch FB Group: / morganranch
My personal homesteading site: www.allmorgan.com

[@honeygirlsapiary]

This is one of the best vids I have ever seen on KZbin for beekeeping! Constant good information flowing without a bunch of ummm uhhh ummm uhhh hmmm uhhh… Very well described and very informative.

[@boguslav1479]

Greetings from north-east Poland. Wish i knew about this brilliant idea earlier. I've lost 3of7 bee families this winter... They had 21kg of food per family (normally we give 10-15) and still 3 hives died of starvation 😕 Crazy weather... Next winter all my hives will surely get that extra layer for bee candy. I've subscribed to your channel ofc. Guess it is time to learn how other nations keep the bees. Never tired of this subject.

[@hutch84jr]

We are new to beekeeping. Great video, Heard and understood every word you said, not sure what other people’s problems were. Definitely gonna use this method in your recipe but we are also going to use a quilt box to keep the moisture out of the hive , hopefully this new beehive we purchased Will survive it’s first winter.

[@sethb9545]

Only way to keep bees from drawing in liquid feeding is to put fine screen on top of liquid. And as the liquid goes down so does wire. Because its floating. You make sure wire is a tad smaller and your liquid holder. I like putting Hive Alive in my water while making any kind of extra food source.

[@janabaker4058]

Thank you for all the information!! Great video!!!

[@keZiah2467]

Such a helpful video! Thank you!! I'm glad you mentioned to put it directly on the hive... I was wondering about that. I personally might try it with ACV because Hive Beatles dont exist in my zipcode.

[@timothiabalentine5344]

Thank you for your time and information.👍

[@teresahoward2208]

Thank you for your time making the video. It was to the point and great visuals.

[@wsabrina2012]

I love your demonstration you’re the best you get to the point

[@j.clarkhelton7883]

Robber bees aren't out searching for food during this time. The cold winter temperatures forbid robbing. The hole allows for ventilation and an entrance for bees to make cleansing flights.

[@wpankey57]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing.

[@bbeisenhaurt7055]

Thank you for all the great information. I really appreciate it.

[@norbertniggemann5949]

I've been using candy boards like that for 20 years if you use hands with rubber gloves you can mix the 10 lbs of sugar with 1 and 2/3 cup liquid in about 30 seconds

[@namastebees150]

Thank you 🐝💛

[@rahoneybees2459]

Great video... Thanks for sharing 👍

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

Great video and very interesting I am a new Beekeeper in West Virginia and I am making some candy boards for my bees I just found your channel and subscribed to it. Have a great day

[@allmorgan]

Thanks for the kind words. Good to meet you! Find more tidbits at www.indianahoney.org where I archive other monthly tips and resources.

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

I will do that thank you I appreciate it

[@crislyon5693]

Thank you!

[@anitaimpagliazzo6088]

I am about to make some of these. None of my colonies here in Central VA has enough honey going into winter this year. Is that ventilation hole open or covered with hardware cloth?

[@KingpinRable]

So you supposed to add 2 cups of water to 10 lbs of sugar right? Well you only mixed half of the water or so, and never added rest of it. Was this mixture good enough, meaning was it moist enough, or you just forgot to add rest of the water?

[@debrabullock4865]

How do you know when bees have used all their natural stores? Also, what size is the hole in your candy frame? Debra B.

[@paulm8392]

I read that bees really do not get on well with vinegar. I see you say its mould inhibitor but is it worth putting such an unfriendly substance in your bees food?

[@bradgoliphant]

Thank you. Hey, do we have to use wire in the bottom of the board? I don’t have any. I was going to use a few paint stir sticks and add the candy over brown paper bags.

[@DebbieRiley-g1q]

The whole on the candy board will allow rubbers into that hole or do you screen over that hole to keep rubbers from getting into your candy board from other hives

[@morganranch]

The hole is left open during cold weather. It allows an upper entrance in the event the lower entrance gets blocked from weather, or dead bees. I go out and I screen over the hole before the warmer weather brings robbers.

[@goosevamtb]

Around 10:45, you said 8 lbs of sugar to 1/2 gallon of water is considered to be a 1:1 mix, and that 16 lbs to 1/2 gallon of water would be a 2:1 mix. By weight, 8 lbs of sugar in 1/2 gal of water is 8 lbs in about 4.2 lbs of water, or about 2:1. By volume, 8 lbs of sugar is 1.13 gallons, and this yields a ratio of about 2.3. Your formulation for 2:1 (16 lbs of sugar in 1/2 gallon of water) produces ratios twice as strong as 8 lbs in 1/2 gallon of water by weight or volume. So, to mix 1:1 by weight, you need to mix about 8.33 lbs of sugar into 1 gallon of water. To mix 1:1 by volume, you need to mix 7.05 lbs of sugar into 1 gallon of water.

[@hildaloubser1223]

how long to dry sugar.

[@wilsons_acres71]

Hi there. Thank you for this video. How long can one candy board last a hive in the winter?

[@morganranch]

That depends on if and when the bees need it. I have some hives that have enough stores where they don't touch the board all winter long. Other colonies deplete their stores and dig into the Candy board sooner and they can deplete it before winter is over. I go around checking hives on the nicer days during winter and when I see there is a lot of it eaten, I have hardened blcks of candy/sugar that I toss into the voids. I have had hives that were able to sustain themselves through the winter on candy blocks until spring.

[@alswedgin9274]

Sugar cubes?

[@therails887]

What about the queen excluder instead of the screen?

[@MichaelPaul155]

That is a great suggestion!

[@robinlewisart_1997]

Awesome I built one last year great idea

[@roberthall6195]

So do you have your upper exit above or below the candy board? Or are you using the ventilation hole in your candy board for your upper exit?

[@allmorgan]

Hi Robert, some people do in fact leave the hole in the board open as an upper exit. However, in the spring, I'd suggest covering it with #8 hardware cloth to keep those early spring robbers out.

[@anncorning8103]

How can you tell what the weight of your hive is?

[@morganranch]

That's always been a challenge. For most of us, we don't have the fancy scales that can pick up hives. Over the years, I have been lifting the back of the hive and tipping it forward just to feel the weight. Over time, you get better at knowing if there is honey in the hive or not. I have even gone as far as stooping down (bending at the knees) and grabbing the handles on the bottom box and try lifting the entire hive. DON'T exert too much energy and through your back out.... but if there's little to no honey, I can actually lift it. I only say this to try and illustrate the difference between a few boxes with no honey in them vs boxes with honey in them. It doesn't take a lot of honey to make it so you can't lift it... so again, don't throw your back out. When you are in your apiary, just make it a habit to tip your hives forward and feel their weight. It's much easier just tipping vs lifting. I have almost tipped an empty (low honey) hive right off the front of the stand, so be careful there too. Again, this is just a basic measure to understand if your hive needs more feed. Hope it helps.

[@dorothya2694]

My husband wants a bowl like the one you’re using in this video. Do you know where I can get one -what’s it called and where to order one?

[@allmorgan]

It's a copper confectioners kettle. You'd find at an antique store... or maybe ebay or Etsy. It's a old one.

[@brusrty8122]

New beekeeper in northern IN as well. I wondered if I should place a burlap bag with sawdust and straw on top of sugar to help with moisture and to help insulate or is that overkill and I don't need it? (I'm using an extra medium super box, putting wire on bottom, and drilling hole for entrance. then will plug hole come spring.) Any advice is appreciated! Thanks for the videos!

[@jimmyjapa6368]

SB INDIANA HERE,, YOU KNOW HOW ARE WINTERS HERE,, WRAP THEM UP,, BY A BROOD,, BOX HEATER,, 14WATT ,,,,,IT WILL KEEP THE WARN LIKE A BUG IN A RUG,, more insurance is better than none much well with your bees

[@eugeneaboagye7276]

what is the name of the powder please

[@allmorgan]

Granulated sugar.

[@dougbutler1131]

What kind of bottom wire is that and where do I get it?

[@morganranch]

That is 3/8 inch hardware cloth mesh. Easy to find it any hardware store.

[@lindaferguson593]

I don't understand the reason for an outside entrance hole to the board. It looks like an invite for robbers.

[@MichaelPaul155]

Ventilation, to allow moisture evaporation is what he said.

[@lanafiala2683]

Can I add a second candy board if the bees have eaten most of the first one I put on in November?

[@eieio-mn9pm]

The paper plates I used had the three divisions in them so I ended up with chunks ... seems to have worked so far

[@morganranch]

I would not. The reason is because the bees will start building comb in the candy boards the moment things warm a bit. I have had them build comb in one board just by getting back to it too late. Last thing you want is the initial brood coming in to be destroyed when you have to take the board(s) off. Best to just have chunks ready to add. If there is a really nice day, you could actually swap out.

[@amberwheat5486]

How deep is your sugar board?

[@MikeChamplin]

Could you substitute a teaspoon of bleach for the white vinegar as a mold inhibitor?

[@HomesteadOdyssey]

How long does it normally take to dry?

[@morganranch]

A day or two after making. The idea is to let it turn from granules to a brick so that if the bees start eating it, dry sugar doesn't sift out and through the frames.

[@karolespencer]

@@morganranch how long will this keep before I need to use put it in the hive? Or should I make it when I’m ready to put it out there?

[@morganranch]

@@karolespencer It'll last indefinitely. JUst cover it in a way that other bees, mice and ants can't get to it. Keep it dry. I have stored candy board from one season to the next. Definitely use the white vinegar as directed. It helps as a mold inhibitor.

[@Makermook]

When do you add the candy board?

[@allmorgan]

I put them on as late as possible, best when it's staying cold. If you put them on too early and you get a lot of warm days, the bees will go up there and start eating it. The idea is to have that feed there later in the winter when they start getting low on their other food stores.

[@andywhitehurst7458]

Hello fellow Hoosier bee keeper. What kind of wine are you making? I see your 5 gallon carboys on the kitchen counter.

[@allmorgan]

I make it all Andy. You can see more of my winemaking endeavors at www.allmorgan.com and for real-time discussion, facebook.com/groups/morganranch - Cheers!

[@NG-ow4ii]

Not sure pollen patty work

[@ohnativeplants]

How deep is this board

[@heavymechanic2]

I had the same question, basic measurements leads me to believe the candy boards are around 3 inches deep. The winter boards from MannLake are 1-1/4 above the wood where the insulation goes (nice feeder boards for the price).

[@reedjasonf]

Only 40lbs of honey!? Here in Michigan the rule of thumb is 100 lbs I've heard.

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Like this practically

[@candacehladick7636]

Great video. Thanks! Do you let the candy board harden before adding to the hive? I worry adding extra moisture to the hive,

[@morganranch]

Hi Candace, I do try to let it harden ahead of time. There's usually never a problem of adding moisture to a hive as bees do keep it a relatively humid environment. The only time there is too much moisture is if/when it's dripping back down on to the bees from the lid (which will kill them). The candy board does a very good of wicking up excess moisture. The larger concern with adding a candy board too soon is if the bees begin eating through the paper and the sugar sifts through before it has set. If you make the board how I show in the video, you'd be fine to put it in shortly after making it. I've had situations where I needed board fast and made them the some day I put them on. Good luck.

[@andywhitehurst7458]

NICE video well done. THe volume is a little low.

[@olddave4833]

I understand sugar is better on a bees gut that honey.

[@crislyon5693]

Beginner beekeeper

[@laldinfarmingsandbusinessi2282]

Hope everyone is doing well. Happy to read your chats. It's informative a lot. I want to discuss one thing with you, I am doing beekeeping since 3 years. Doing job as Apiculture Unit officer in private organization. In a university we want to start beekeeping as a research and honey production, we have plan to start with 30 afghani boxes. Please guide how to start? With how many boxes? Plantation plan? Model farm? Can anyone guide? A lot to discuss! We can create a WhatsApp group as well.... 0:09

[@lindagray5857]

can't hear you on this video

[@poorlittlewhitegirl2608]

speak up and clearer