The Chemistry Behind Feeding Bees Part 1

A presentation at the Macon County Beekeepers in Franklin North Carolina on the chemistry and mechanics of feeding bees.
Fat Bees Skinny Bees.
www.agrifutures.com.au/wp-con...
George Imirie's PINK PAGES
pinkpages.chrisbacherconsultin...
Feeding Bees Sucrose Syrup vs HFCS
• Feeding Bees Sucrose S...
Comparison of productivity of colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera, supplemented with sucrose or high fructose corn syrup
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23886....

[@larryjennings4663]

Hi Bob. My name is Larry Jennings, I live in SW Virginia, and have been a beekeeper for over 50 of my 90 plus years. Amazingly, even though for many of those 50 years I was active in the Blue Ridge Beekeepers Assn. (Roanoke, VA.). both going through the chairs and teaching new as well as advanced beekeepers, I still nearly every day learn something new about beekeeping either from working with the bees or watching videos on You Tube, many of which you have produced. You have a clear voice (I'm partially deaf) and your delivery is impeccable. Just wanted to let you know this and that I'll continue looking forward to your programs on You Tube. Best wishes and continued success to you and yours!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Larry. Thanks for the kind words and I'm very impressed that you are still active with bees at over 90 years old. 👍

[@carolsisti7203]

Good for you. God Bless and I pray you have many more years working with the bees. 😊

[@kobyhumbert4798]

Been watching you for a year now, went ahead and fed only sugar water to our 2000 hive operation… HUGE difference in the bees, been going down to California for pollination with the bees ready to go right into the almonds. Thanks Bob, you are way ahead of these other guys.

[@drxyz710]

I am planning to have 1000 hives and I have now 100 could you tell me how you managed it

[@TennesseeTim38451]

Thank you Bob for your wealth of information that you share. These videos that you and others are producing will have a lasting effect on the industry of beekeeping, be it as a hobbyist or someone trying to make a living off the bugs in a box!

[@adkfoothills1973]

Wonderful presentation, Bob. This is the type of information that beekeepers need, both new and old. Best wishes from up north and "thank you" for the education. 🐝🐝

[@katiewebber760]

The content we backyard beekeepers absolutely need: keeping bees out of the pool. Mrs. Binnie, please share!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Coming soon. Thanks.

[@joeelam1]

Need all information about the pool issue.

[@naturallynorthwest9748]

Excellent video. Can't wait for part 2! Thanks Bob

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Very good information Bob. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@davidhorsley4657]

This lecture gives us a lot to think about. Thanks, Bob.

[@PhilSerafinasBeeHappy]

Excellent talk, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@dcbirdsnbees]

I love your videos as they are loaded with tremendous information. I often take notes and watch your presentations several times to help things sink in.

[@mihai.r-beekeeper5694]

Hi. Thanks a lot Bob. I have been a beekeeper for almost 60 years and I can see that I still have more to learn. All good.

[@calvinkalmon6746]

Really rounding out my bee knowledge, thank you Bob!

[@anibis485]

Bob, this is maybe one of your best and most interesting report you offered us! Txs for all those video.

[@brucesbees]

Very interesting Bob. Thanks for taking the time to share these videos.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Ditto.

[@barryduke8329]

As always, a well presented and well researched video from you Bob. Thanks from the uk.

[@honey_bee_live]

Thanks for taking the time to post these videos!

[@keithspillman]

A GREAT video. I felt like thinner syrup was more prodictive in my hives but never had any proof. Thanks for all you do for beekeeping Bob!!!

[@fricksapiaries8646]

Thank you for posting this Bob

[@andrewc7369]

Thanks Bob. Great pres.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Great information. Enjoyed the video. Thanks.

[@jamesgehde6331]

I loved this video, I learned a lot. I’ve been leaving all the fall honey on my hives, plus loading them with fondant I made from refined sugar. In the spring the sugar would be gone, and honey would be left. Bee preferences you talk about here helped explain that.

[@mihaicatrina783]

Particularly interesting and important data for the activity of raising and exploiting bee families. Thank you Mr. Binnie for your kindness in putting such valuable information into the public domain. I follow you with great interest from Romania (EU). Much respect! Mihai Catrina

[@bartosrobert4213]

Dada da all the best from Cluj to same part of europa

[@stavarmarian6015]

Nu prea mă am cu engleza .. poți să mă ajuți să îmi spui ce cantitate de apa oxigenata / litru trebuie pentru a distruge nosema ? Știu că e in acest video..mersi , duminică plăcuta !

[@altaylor293]

Once again an outstanding video. I used your advice and fed a thinner mixture this year with good results. I really appreciate all of your knowledge. Thanks for sharing.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Al, thanks.

[@beebum1909]

I've heard different versions of this presentation and enjoy them all. This one has taken it to the next level. Feeding bees has long been of great interest to me and I believe many folks are ignorant of the information you have masterfully compiled here. Looking forward to the next in the series. Thank you

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks.

[@heavymechanic2]

BOB is the Man! I took his advise and have been feeding extra thin sugar for weeks to draw wax, just started adding 2-oz of ultrabee per colony and brood increased just like spring time. I'm in a similar climate and summer derth is the reason I am going to Carniolan type queens and rearing them for splits.

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Thanks Bob Great talk!

[@oscarvilla6841]

Fantastic, thank you great explanation 👍

[@billc3405]

Excellent information thank you

[@bdeleon9708]

Been watching your uploads...you are not a good bees guru...but the BEST! Keep it up!. More blessings for you and the rest of your group.

[@mrbinary71]

Man. All this great info you share!! I don’t know why you don’t have more subscribers

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Bob I just read all the comments and questions for u Bob u are just a wonderful person u do your best to answer every question that is left for u, I watch a lot of videos on bee keeping and that is not so with other people I want to say Thank you so much for the time u put in for the videos and the time u take to answer all of our questions u have helped a lot of us beekeepers and Just Thank you so much for a caring heart.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Frances. Thank you.

[@Ciadoapicultormanejoavancado]

Parabéns pelo seu trabalho,vc é um grande profissional na Apicultura,assisto todos os seus videos.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Obrigada.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Excellent information 👍 nice job on your presentation Sir. Hope your doing well. Thanks, good health and God bless

[@bobbinnie9872]

👍 thanks.

[@dianetaylor6751]

What?!?! We gotta wait for part 2?!?! I ain't patient when it comes to my weekly dose of BBBTv (Bob Binnie Bees TV). Thx for the video tho. I will not so patiently await part 2.

[@craigkirich9646]

Hi Bob, glad you found that India study ;) In regards to pools. I live in the suburbs and have kept 4 hives literally 5' from my 18' pool and other then the occasional drop from an undertaker on the cover, never had an issue with bees "swimming" or anyone getting stung. I do have a small fountain with stones about 50' away (not really used by them) and woods/creek about a half mile away.

[@plainsimple442]

Thanks Bob!

[@dadu63]

Very good information professor binnie. Thanks for your help and your knowledge sir. It is feeding time here in cleveland county, NC.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks and good luck.

[@jeremyhuggins8796]

Dadu63 Yes it is! I've got sugar syrup cooling on the stove right now. I'm in Casar.

[@jeffthomas7549]

Thank Bob good info. The wife and I will be in GA. In October for my son's wedding. I hope to have time to make it up to your area and get to visit with you and your company.

[@brucesnavely3603]

Bob, Your explanation seems to confer with colonies raising low amounts of brood when they should be producing winter bees in the Fall.- even while having large amounts of capped honey above the brood area and little food on the brood frames. Now this makes sense. I also like the connection of sucrose syrup to counter stress diseases. Thank you!

[@eddieburchfield8649]

Thank you

[@TORTmentor]

Am new to bee keeping, lost my first colony to doing things "by the books"....now into my second year and this time I feel armed and ready to do more to get my 2 new nucs ready for winter. We are from south central PA and everything in the PNW is so new to us plantwise/seasons, I have to relearn my entire environment. Am so glad I got 2 nucs this time round and feel like if one fails from my inexperience I can still have satisfaction of coming out of winter with one colony and keep learning! I too feel the 2:1 was too much for my bees and backed it to 1:1. It seems to have paid off. Both queens are laying like mad and brood patterns look so nice. Next I have to learn to treat for mites, because I see those buggers lol I literally saw a bee bite a mite.

[@oddlyspecific186]

you might be thinking of hive beetles

[@BrianJMader54476]

Great video 👍

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks 👍

[@jacobhelton8914]

Ok, ready for the mechanics part!!!!!😁

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hopefully next week.

[@jacobhelton8914]

@@bobbinnie9872 ah gonna make me wait! Haha!

[@TheBaconWizard]

Fantastic talk! Thank you for uploading this invaluable stuff. If one accepts the theory that one of the less predictable triggers for swarming is a queen who is slowing-down egg production just as there is a large surplus of young nurse-bees who then have nothing to do (as proposed by Snelgrove) could the thin syrup be used at the right time of year to boost egg production and help prevent swarming? Timing might be quite difficult, but in principle...

[@alfredoherrerarodriguez3779]

Thanks Bob for your videos! I am suscribed to your channel and always waiting for new ones. The ones dedicated to feeding bees are powerful information for us. Greetings from Costa Rica! Guess you know where it is...

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you.

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Thanks for sharing buddy

[@bobbinnie9872]

👍

[@DanSebastianEcobici]

To obtain an additional amount of bee, I use 2 parts water and one part sugar. It seems to me the best combination.

[@tirlaadrian8838]

Dear Mr. Binnie, I appreciate your efforts to educate beekeepers around the world, Personally, I learn a great deal from your videos and I am eternally grateful for this content. If you could please find a minute to consider this: occasionally I am having sirop spoilage problems. Are you personally using or can recommend some measure that will delay the sugar syrup spoilage. I read about beekeepers using chlorine or adding a mixture of thymol with alcohol. Could you please address this here or in some upcoming video. I look forward to an answer to this problem, thank you very much for your time.

[@balanplantz3438]

Tirla, while I don't have Bob's experience with bees, I am a microbiologist. You can add about a teaspoon of bleach to a gallon of syrup to extend shelf life. This is similar chlorine concentration to treated municipal water supply. But it will only gain a week or two storage. You are better served making only as much as you need. Also, I always boil my water before adding the sugar. For context, I have 10 hives.

[@timfeckley1689]

Thanks Bob I just mixed some up today 1-1.40 and put it on hives that have dwindled due to hive beetles hoping it will give them a reboot. N W Ohio

[@bobbinnie9872]

I hope it helps, good luck.

[@markbooth8458]

Hey Bob. Here in my part of the world we have wing stem along with the golden rod and next time I come the store. I will have to ask your wife about how to keep bees out of the swimming pool.

[@georgestampolakis1349]

One of the best videos I've seen.The power of biochemistry.You mention also the importance of lowering the Varroa population numbers in this time of year.What is in your opinion the best method doing that?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I think it's different for everyone. We're just finishing up Apiguard treatments.

[@xcamrider]

Great video as always! Do you ever notice your bees go into swarm mode when you feed this time of year? I’ve been cautious about feeding 1:1 or lighter for fear of tricking the colony into thinking there is a flow and they start producing swarm cells.

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Mark Smith Tip : Just do regular Inspections, and knock down any Queen Cells After (!) You have checked the Brood status !!! Are you seeing the Queen, Eggs, Larva etc. Knock it down first - could be a disastrous outcome. Also giving plenty of laying room negates any Swarming ! If to many Nucs, make them / then unite them after seeing who has the Strongest and best Brood Status. Simples. 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2022. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Recently I ran out of Nuc Boxes ! In a SoS Situation I made Ecks with front entrances in them... So a Brood Box on Stand became x1 Colony. Then a Solid Crown Board, then Eck with entrance and another Brood Box became a second Colony (on top, but both did not have access to each other !) Then another Crown Board... then the Roof. Phew ! Saved the Day. 👍 x16 Colonies... watch this space. 😎

[@springcitybeefarm5971]

Hello bob off subject but … would you do Video on the Chris Warner towels you are trying this year ? I implemented those into my operation as soon as I saw it on Fla series’s you did , I must say I’ve seen mass improvement on my colonies health . I’d sure like hear your experience . I m using in same fashion you are in conjunction with mite treatment. Last year I had some high mite loads , DFWV In couple colonies , that towel and brood break cleared up DFWV and the colonies survived winter and wowed me in spring! I’m convinced there are great benefits to that towel in healing mite damage . Just my observation . God bless and again thank you for all you do for beekeeping community!

[@bobbinnie9872]

We've been starting our treatment regimen with a towel like Chris showed but we have not been adding the camphor. Like you our bees seem to do well with it. My thoughts are that it is the tea tree oil that provides the most benefit but I have no way of knowing for sure.

[@SteveDratwa]

GREAT INFO,,i thought my honey was bad when i put some frames with honey out for them to rob

[@dandahlberg4452]

Always love your videos Sir. So informative! One specific question I have after watching this video is in regards to your comment about sucrose degrading to the point of becoming unhealthy for the bees. Given temps of 75-90, how long can sucrose stay in those temps before it starts to break down and become unhealthy for the bees. Thanks in advance.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Dan. I don't know the exact answer but we see a difference in quality within weeks in warm temperatures, even if it has bleach or Honey-B-Healthy in it. As long as it hasn't fermented I would guess a month or two before it would become hard on the bees health. That's one of the reasons we make our own as we need it.

[@Power36788]

Nice

[@SultanenNex]

Hi, Great video! Will you also publish the next part about the mechanics of feeding the bees?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes, soon. I'm working on it now.

[@SultanenNex]

@@bobbinnie9872awesome 👍 Your talks are very good to listen and learn from

[@briannace9155]

Hello Bob, I have really learned a great deal from your videos, Have you had any experience planting buckwheat in time for a mid-September bloom to help Bees with putting on weight before winter, or do you think it is better just to stay with sucrose syrup?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I have not personally done anything with buckwheat. I know it can also be a good pollen source but the honey is quite dark.

[@JoSeeFuss]

Plant sweet sorghum instead of buckwheat. Very hardy grass that we harvest the grains for humans, makes lots of pollen & nectar and grows virtually anywhere without a lot care. Plus the honey I delicious.

[@dcsblessedbees]

Thank you very much for all the great information you share Bob. Ty for sharing your time Bob, Blessed Days... I have a NW question for you if ya can, I'm at the North end of the Willamette valley in SW WA. It's looking like I'll be going into fall/winter w/8 strong colonies with 2 deeps, a deep of brood and deep of honey each atm. You use to live up here do you think that is a good amount of food for them going into winter? I also have stored up about 300lbs of sugar as my back up.

[@bobbinnie9872]

A full deep of food should work although it would be better if you could get a little more in the bottom box before winter sets in.

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@bobbinnie9872 they are still pulling in pollen and nectar from cucumber and fall gourd/squash from the farm across the street, probably for the rest of this mo. so should be good. Ty Bob you have been very helpful in learning to keep bees.

[@rajbeekie7124]

Hi Bob, thanks for the presentation. I am in St. Paul, MN. I have been taught to feed 2-1 in the fall. This fall I will do the diluted mix. The science seem to support a lighter syrup. Our winters are LONG. Did I say LONG? There are few cleansing flight opportunities in the winter.

[@JoSeeFuss]

You should look at Vino Farms youtube channel. The man has made a very great setup for bees brood boxes in the cold regions.

[@bobbinnie9872]

You have tough winters. It takes skill to get bees through up there.

[@Felician1962]

@@JoSeeFuss could you put a link to that KZbin chanel?

[@emmettroyalhoney2557]

Thanks Bob, appreciate the research. Do you happen to have the PDF for the study that was conducted on "Effect of sugar syrup on bee health" - I cannot seem to find it online and the link I did find, seems to be broken. Thanks.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Send an email to my email address on the "about" page of this channel and I'll send it to you.

[@emmettroyalhoney2557]

@@bobbinnie9872 Will do, thanks Bob.

[@kalle9643]

Thanks for great information, would you please share how to keep the bees out of a pool? I’ve also been told to move an apiary for that reason

[@bobbinnie9872]

We plan on putting out a short video on that soon. Thanks.

[@claudesully]

This year I have been using 1:2 in my splits and nucs....very thin to win😎😎😎😎

[@rogeremeadows]

Bob, do you recommend to pull the syrup the day you do an OA treatment….then resume after the treatment. I didn’t know of any issues of the OA concentrating in the syrup if you left the bucket in place.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I don't think there are any issues so we leave it on.

[@hopesadler4000]

Hey Bob, I look forward to part 2. I've been feeding 1:1.5 sugar to water. My question is how much to feed in a week to keep them stimulated? I top feed with quart jars. Even with only 35 hives, I could go broke feeding as often as they empty the jars. Thank you. Hope

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Hope. We choose our time for the most helpful results and don't feed all the time. When using jars you could just give them a couple of holes so they take it slowly.

[@mindylabean8363]

This is one of the most interesting videos on beekeeping I've watched. I have a question...I got 2 packages this year. The bees just won't build on my frames in the medium box. I'm newish...and I don't have any drawn comb for medium boxes. Can I feed to motivate the bees to draw more comb at this time of the year? If so, what ratio should I use? If you have time...any suggestions on getting them to draw comb?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes you can. Just be careful not to let the sugar water mix with any harvested honey that comes later. For drawing foundation we like 1.5 parts water x 1 part sugar. It doesn't have to be exact, anything close will do.

[@brianhoffman500]

Thank you for a very informative video!. Do you measure your sugar to water ratio by weight or by volume?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Weight, although it doesn't matter because sugar and water weigh close to the same.

[@brianhoffman500]

@@bobbinnie9872 Thank you sir.

[@texasfriendlybeekeepers8210]

so admire your wisdom Bob....on sugar water compared to nectar...some are saying sugar water is not as good as nectar? im thinking sucrose is sucrose...thoughts?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Although they are both sucrose, I'm sure there are elements in most nectar that can be good for the bees at certain times.

[@honeysuckle2907]

Hi Bob, Would you share again where you purchase the one gallon buckets with the pop out plugs. As always we enjoy your videos!! Honeysuckle Hill Bee Farm

[@bobbinnie9872]

We make them ourselves. There is more info in our video "Feeding Bees Part 3 - Types of Sugar Syrup and Feeders We Use". kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJu4m61-edaIqqM. They will also be discussed in our next video. You can order ours from our store at 706 782 6722.

[@honeysuckle2907]

@@bobbinnie9872 Heading down in a couple week visiting family, Will stop by!

[@edwinhsingmaster9135]

Drone frame question: If you take a Drone frame from another colony, will the Queen in this hive mate with these Drones? Love learning from you Bob. Thanks

[@bobbinnie9872]

I don't think it would matter. The queen usually tries to fly farther than the drones from her own yard.

[@robertthomas5648]

Bob, nice information. One question. A 2016 Bee Culture article says honey contains AT LEAST 182 elements. Sugar contains 2 elements. (Called a double sugar )How can you remove 179 elements from anyones food and expect them to winter healthy and happy ? My solution is to manage your harvest to leave some flow for the bees to prep their hive for winter. Simply pull the supers earlier. West PA

[@Westernwilson]

The catch is: do the bees benefit from *any* of those other elements? Some fall honeys are not great winter feed due to their high ash content.

[@LorenzaPonce]

Hi Bob, How do you prevent black mold in your feeder buckets? Thank you!

[@bobbinnie9872]

We do get some but we keep it to a minimum by using ether Honey B Healthy at the recommended dose or one teaspoon of bleach in our syrup.

[@andrewk1191]

Hi Bob. What about feeding with last year’s honey, which was extracted and stored in the freezer over the winter due to high moisture levels? Is it ok to feed it 1:1 in the spring or is sugar syrup better? I don’t know what to do with that honey. Thanks.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Honey can be fed back to bees but it can ferment or go rancid easily when diluted. You could counter this with one teaspoon of bleach in a gallon or heat the honey enough to kill any yeast present. I wouldn't mix up any more at a time than what the bees could use quickly.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Looking forward to hearing about the tea tree oil on towels. Prior to Apiguard?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I haven't mentioned that much. We use 200ml of tea tree oil mixed with 1 gallon of vegetable oil and soak heavy duty paper towels in it and give each colony 1/2 towel 5 days before starting Apigaurd treatments. I can't swear that it helps but it sure does seem too.

[@JoSeeFuss]

If you feed bees pollen, you should feed them SPIRULINA based patties. The Spirulina pollen is actually healthier for the bees than regular flower pollen. Now if your feeding them a replacement for nectar, one of the best is SWEET SORGHUM and the pollen from this grain crop is very good too. The best thing about sweet sorghum is it doesn't needs a lot of water or care. You can plant a lot of it, in the south it will grow year round. The grain is harvested for humans, the sugars from the stalks can feed bees, humans and even become an fuel alcohol, plus the left over stalks are great feed for cows, sheep or goats. Look for more natural products to set your bees up for success (Spirulina is a natural occuring algea).

[@fliongata8887]

What do you think about the inverted sugar syrop, is it better than the sucrose syrop, specifically for the autumn feeding?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I used to use a dry sugar that was partially inverted. It's called "Drivert" and the bees did well on it. I've not used any inverted syrup.

[@balanplantz3438]

Hi Bob, thanks for another informed video. Could you comment on using last year's sugar syrup honey extracted and diluted. Many of my brood boxes were honey bound with this summer's honey and sugar water honey. I extracted, diluted and am feeding back to the bees

[@balanplantz3438]

Bob, for clarification I am feeding diluted old honey now right after splitting colonies. Goal is to grow bees and build comb. Feeding for winter stores will start middle of September. I heat the diluted honey sufficiently to kill yeast and bacteria but not overly heat damage the sugars.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I think what you're doing is fine for building bees but I would hesitate to use it as winter stores.

[@adamsoutdoors]

So first year beekeeper here. So I’m gonna need that video on how to keep the bees out of the pool. My wife is not real happy about sharing the pool with the bees in back yard now. Thanks

[@bobbinnie9872]

We'll put a post up soon. Thanks.

[@chickabeesapiary7920]

@@bobbinnie9872 following...

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

Where do you get your buckets and plugs? Or will that be on the next video? Thanks in advance

[@bobbinnie9872]

Although there is info on that coming in the next video you can find a lot in our videos "Feeding Bees Part 1" and "Feeding Bees Part 2".

[@trakist8281]

Hi Bob, what can you say about Topioca Syrup, is it possible to feed the bees with this syrup?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I'm not familiar with Topioca syrup so I couldn't say.

[@jdselfokstate]

Where can we find the graph that shows the H2O2 contents? If there is supporting documentation on that study that would be fantastic. As an aside my buddy is a vet in the army and he mentioned as part of their training they would field dress wounded K9's with honey. This H202 information seems to make that make sense.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Watch our video with Lewis Bartlett. "Feeding Bees Sucrose Syrup vs HFCS". kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJbNgn-Mgblsf8U it has more information. Thanks.

[@jarredladuke]

Bob that was VERY well communicated! But... how do you keep bees out of the neighbors pool? Asking for a friend 😉 and when would you feed 2:1?

[@2timbukk]

Excellent video Bob! Yes we also would like the swimming pool fix! Maybe you could make a video about it. It’s a big problem for us! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!! Jeff Albright

[@bobbinnie9872]

We will post that on KZbin soon. I would feed 2 to 1 if I needed to put weight on fast before it got to cold.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Jeff. We are going to post that on KZbin soon. Thanks

[@ETsBees]

So I bought some sucrose syrup. Is this stuff mixed with water? 1:1 or is that only with “table sugar”

[@bobbinnie9872]

The commercial sucrose syrup that is most often purchased is approximately two parts sugar to one part water.

[@pete0205]

What about additives to make the syrup more acidic? I add apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to my syrup to raise the PH. We teach this to our beginning classes but without you mentioning it in your talk I'm wondering if we've been passing out bad information.... Great video, thanks for posting!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Pete. That is an option and know many beekeepers do it. I have not done it and with no experience I can't speak on that .Thanks.

[@bessiewilson1784]

We have a very shallow bird bath that we feed sucrose to 4 hive’s because the bees in the hives have gone mostly wild which we will work on next spring this is a.Texas we are in a drought & nothing is blooming

[@Peter_Gunn]

I am so glad that you are promoting feeding bees. It makes me cringe when people are against it.

[@grounded7362]

Bob, What are you thoughts on this? I am in Northwest Minnesota, zone 3a. I started raising my own queens this year and set up four way mating boxes, 4 over 4 half frames. I started feeding 1:1 syrup to stimulate new comb and brood but was seeing a very slow build up of comb and brood. I decided to try 2:1 syrup (2 cups water to 1 cup sugar) and saw the comb build up increase considerably. I am not seeing an overly heavy storing up but what I am seeing is the queens are laying up as fast as the bees are drawing out comb. The bees are barely getting cells started and the queen is laying eggs in them and as soon as a bee emerges from a cell the queen is laying it right back up again. I have to keep a very close eye on them for space due to the queen laying every frame up full. And even more so as soon as the bee numbers come up from newly emerged bees because the added numbers of bees is also stimulating the queen to lay even that much more. I am hoping to take my mating colonies over winter for early spring queens but some of them are looking like I may have to move them into larger boxes.I am currently at 2 and 3 boxes deep with the mating colonies in order to provide the queens with space to lay more. If I move them to bigger boxes I will move them to 4 over 4 double nuc boxes for the winter. I had a couple other colonies that were building up slow earlier in the season and also put the 2:1 syrup on them and they just went crazy and started laying up everything that was open. I have to really watch that they are not running out of space due to the queens laying everything full. I have more brood in all stages in the hives than I have nectar. I am thinking I will have to start feeding 1:2 syrup (1 water to 2 sugar) next month (September) as this is when we normally starts seeing much cooler weather and our first snow comes on Halloween. Right now the goldenrod is going gangbusters as well as many other flowers and the burdock is in full bloom as well as horsetail and so many other plants. I have never seen the goldenrod so abundant as I am seeing this year but we have had a lot of rain in my area this summer. Our goldenrod goes clear up till snow fall. Unfortunately the bees are not flying that far into the season. This year I am considering leaving only one box of honey on and putting on candy boards when needed due to that fact that when we get a few warm days often enough during our winter the queens always jump on the open cells vacated by the bees doing cleansing flights and she will lay them up, trapping the bees on the brood and ultimately they starve out because they don't move up into the next box of honey because of the brood they are keeping warm. In the past the box just above the bottom brood box is where the queens typically start laying up cells during the warmer winters. So If I put candy board just above the second box the bees will have food right at the top of the winter brood nest. In 2020 I lost every colony just as covid was ramping up in this area and over again this year. I started with 3 nucs and two packages and am currently build up and looking at going into winter with 9 and 12 queen mating colonies. It was very encouraging to hear you talk about a thinner syrup after the results I have been seeing with my colonies on thinner syrup.

[@bobbinnie9872]

You're in a tough environment. We can get away with a lot of things that you cannot. I wonder if those small mating nucs will make it. Seems like you would need at least four deep frames of bees. Down here I don't use small nucs like that because hive beetles will take them over later in the season and they run out of room quickly when things are going well. Although I have don't use candy boards I know many people like them and seem to have success with them. Sounds like you have the thin syrup thing figured out. Many don't believe it. Good luck this coming winter.

[@grounded7362]

@@bobbinnie9872 Thanks for the encouragement Bob. I figured I would give the small hives a try this year and see what becomes of it. If they make it through I will have those Queens for early splits and not have to wait till June to raise Queens. I am trying to get away from buying Queens because the bees end up replacing them early in the season if I let them. I have had colonies get away from me by June and swarm out in the past. The candy boards have been a lifesaver for me in the past. Oh yeah this are going very well right now and I am having to really work with those small hives to keep them from running out of room and swarming. I may do a Demaree split on the strongest and keep them building new bees for winter and see how that works for those small hives.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

At the beginning of the breeding season, how much should I feed the bees 1 sugar with 1.5 water?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Every colony is different. We usually feed it until the natural nectar flow begins or the colony has enough weight to make it until the flow starts.

[@bartosrobert4213]

I, working whit sugar to now in late sumer and in spring i use a 1.7 L water for 1 kg sugar..beeing in Romania we use this not pounds .....

[@thomashouser5877]

This guy is the Bob Ross of beekeeping.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

I feed the bees in the spring tomorrow when the hive is strong and I put one liter to consume in one night is this good for bees or not.

[@bobbinnie9872]

This should be fine.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

Can I feed the bees 2 water with 1 sugar and what is the appropriate time for this or do we prefer 1.5 water instead of 2 water

[@bobbinnie9872]

2 water and 1 sugar would be fed when you want to stimulate brood rearing and wax production. 1.5 water will do the same thing but the bees will gain weight faster.

[@cathymontgomery7295]

Is there any difference between cane sugar and beet sugar? I have been using cane sugar

[@bobbinnie9872]

Although I have never used beet sugar my understanding is that it works just fine.

[@aarondlancaster]

Interested in a short video on the swimming pool problem please.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Coming soon, thanks.

[@jeremiahputnam4714]

What about using a cap&ladder feeder for fall feeding in sc.

[@bobbinnie9872]

That would work great for putting on weight.

[@vytbbb7146]

What is "thin syrup" acroding to you? 1:1? 1.25:1? 1.5:1?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I would consider 1.25 and 1.5:1 thin.

[@joshreeder6881]

So i have been open feeding my hives but they seem to be going through a crazy amount of feed im in florida and it has rained in my area alot the past few weeks is this normal?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Sorry, I am not familiar with what bees are normally doing this time of year in Florida.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

What is the favorite month in which we start feeding bees?

[@bobbinnie9872]

March or April in our area.

[@BBRapiary]

Hi Bob. Im a new beekeeper, how many holes do you drill on the bucket when feeding?

[@bobbinnie9872]

6 or 8 generally. 1/16 inch.

[@BBRapiary]

Oh my wondered why they are back filling the brood nest I drilled 30 holes, thanks for the information.👍

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

Are the three enzymes that you add sold, or is the bee the one who converts sugar with these enzymes from its body? If the enzymes are sold, give me where they are sold and how to add them to the sugar solution

[@bobbinnie9872]

The bees make the enzymes.