As summer ends, beekeepers in southern regions need to prepare their hives for winter. One important step is deciding whether to feed sugar syrup. Here’s what to consider:
- Honey Stores: Do your hives have enough honey to last the winter?
- Nectar Supply: Will there be nectar available on warmer winter days?
- Colony Strength: How big and strong is the hive?
- Winter Food Needs: How much food will your bees need?
- Feeding Method: Will you feed inside the hive or use open feeding?
How Much Honey Does a Hive Need?
A strong hive usually needs about 18 kg of honey for winter. If your hive feels light when lifted, you may need to feed sugar syrup to help them store enough food.
Why Use Sugar Syrup?
Nectar is mostly sucrose, which makes white sugar (sucrose) a great substitute. Some beekeepers prefer feeding honey, but sugar syrup is clean, safe, and disease-free. It also helps prevent issues like nosema and the spread of diseases like American Foulbrood (AFB).
Feeding Tips & Best Practices
Best Syrup Ratio: In autumn, mix 2 kg of sugar with 1 litre of water (2:1 ratio). This encourages bees to store it instead of eating it right away.
In-Hive Feeding
- Best Practice: Feeding inside the hive prevents robbing and disease spread.
- Top Feeder Advantage: A Nuplas Top Feeder sits under the lid, keeps the syrup warm, and reduces disturbance.
- Quantity: Start with 1 to 3 litres and adjust as needed. Only feed what the bees can consume in a few days to prevent fermentation and dysentery.
Open Feeding
- Placement is Key: Place the feeder 50 to 100 meters away from the hives to reduce robbing.
Pros:
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- Mimics natural foraging.
- Keeps ants and pests away from the hive area.
- Saves time and effort since one feeder serves many hives.
Cons:
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- Stronger colonies may take most of the syrup.
- Other bees and pests might feed on it.
- Higher risk of spreading diseases like AFB and varroa mites.
Boosting Bee Health with HiveAlive
Adding 2.5 ml of HiveAlive per litre of syrup can:
- Increase colony size by 89%
- Boost honey production by 40%
- Reduce winter losses by 15%
- Improve brood production by 39%
- Support bee gut health and help prevent AFB
Important Reminder
Only feed sugar syrup after removing honey supers! This prevents contamination and ensures your honey remains pure.
Final Thought
Both in-hive and open feeding have pros and cons. Choosing the right method will help keep your hives strong and healthy through winter. Happy beekeeping!