3.0 PRACTICE OF BEEKEEPING
The candidate will be:
3.5 able to describe the preparation of sugar syrup and how and when to feed honeybees;
NOTES
Sugar syrup is made by stirring white granulated sugar into warm water.
A thick syrup in the proportions of 2kg sugar to 1litre of water is used to feed bees in preparation for winter after the honey harvest has been taken.
A thinner solution of 1kg sugar to 1litre of water can be fed to bees in the spring to simulate an early nectar flow.
Sugar syrup can also be fed to bees at any time where the colony may require extra feeding for example during bad weather when the bees are unable to forage, or when starting new colonies.
There are a variety of styles of feeders available that enable syrup to be fed to bees. In general these consist of a container like a bucket or deep tray which is placed over the feed hole of a crown board. The feeder has access to allow the bees to crawl up through the hole in the crown board into contact with the syrup.
Take care not to spill or leave sugar syrup in the open around the apiary as this can lead to robbing behaviour and problems with wasps. Feeding in the evening is recommended as there will be few bees flying to cause a nuisance.