Feeding Management Of Honeybees
Under favourable conditions colonies should not require artificial feeding but feeding is needed when :
1) Too much honey is removed by beekeeper and little stores are left.
2) Stimulant feeding for increasing brood production in the beginning of spring.
3) To ensure enough stores for overwintering of colonies.
4) For hiving swarms, when hived on combs with little or no stores.
5) For chemotherapy treatment for the control of diseases.
6) For cell builder colonies in queen rearing.
(a) Combs of honey taken from colonies with extra honey can be given to needy colonies but this involves a risk of transmitting diseases.
(b) Normally sugar (30-50% as stimulant feed and 60-70% when there is a shortage of stores) is fed to bees. The feed is given inside the hive in containers (with straw or float to avoid drowning) or filled in combs. To avoid robbing the feed is given to all colonies in an apiary. No syrup should be spitted in the apiary.
Pollen sources are not available to bees all through the year. During dearth periodcolonies require pollen substitute or pollen supplement so that brood rearing iscontinued. Artificial food is needed to supplementing the colony's diet during times offood deficiency.
Different types of artificial food can be used for feeding in different seasons and circumstances. An artificial diet is mainly provided in emergencies. When fed continuously, it should be fed for 3 days followed by a 3-day non-feeding interval. It is important to avoid spillage outside the hive as spilled food can attract pests such as ants that may destroy the colony. The three common types of food are sugar syrup, candy, and pollen substitute.
Sugar Syrup
Syrup is used in different concentrations. The amount and strength of syrup is selected according to the specific situation and season.
- 1:1 syrup (1 part sugar, 1 part water) This is normally given as a supplement when there is a food deficiency in a normal colony or during the dearth season in order to activate the colony to work.
- 2:1 syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water) This syrup is used to feed medicine and in the cold season.
- 1:2 syrup (1 part sugar, 2 parts water) This syrup is used for feeding in the hot dry season.
Feeding using a frame feeder
- Pour the syrup into a frame feeder, put 5–7 pieces of straw into the feeder extending to the upper edges to prevent the bees from sinking, and place the feeder in the hive
- The feeder can also be loosely covered with clean muslin before placing in the hive to facilitate feeding.
Feeding using a plastic jar
- Perforate the lid of a plastic jar with a series of holes.
- Pour the syrup into the jar, tightly close the perforated lid, and invert the jar on the lid of the inner cover or on top of the frame bar so that bees can feed from it
Precautions for feeding
- Always feed in the evening, except in special situations such as feeding a new swarm.
- Place the syrup inside the hive not outside.
- Remove the feeder with any remaining syrup in the morning.
- Do not spill the syrup when preparing it or feeding the colony.
- Wipe up any spilled syrup immediately with a wet cloth.
- Do not provide more syrup than needed.
- Feed the syrup on the same day it is prepared.
Candy
Candy is a semi-solid material prepared with finely ground sugar mixed with honey or water. It is used as a supplement during the dearth period. In general, candy prepared from 0.5–1 kg of sugar is enough to feed a colony for 1 day during the dearth. Honey or water can be mixed with the powdered sugar to produce candy, but candy prepared with honey will keep better and is more nutritious.
Preparation
- Grind the sugar to a fine powder on a clean slate or in a mill.
- Mix 200–300 g honey thoroughly with 1 kg powdered sugar. The amount of honey should be just sufficient to give a semi-solid 'candy' consistency. Water can be used instead of honey, but is not as good. Wrap candy in a plastic sheet with closely positioned holes punched in it, or a solid plastic sheet or wax paper with both ends open.
Feeding
Place the candy on the top bars, in an open space in the brood chamber, or in a frame feeder placed in the middle of the brood chamber.
Pollen Substitute
Pollen is a basic food for the overall development of honeybees. It is rich in protein which isneeded for the physiological development of adults and brood. Ideally bees should be fed inthe hive with stored pollen; if this isn't available, an artificial pollen substitute can be prepared.
Preparation
- Make flour from soya or gram by roasting, de-husking, and grinding.
- If used, grind sugar to a fine powder on a clean slate or in a mill.
- Mix 100 g of soya flour with enough honey, or powdered sugar and a little water, to make a candy like consistency. This amount is usually enough for 1 week for one colony.
Feeding
- Wrap in a clean perforated plastic bag and place on the top bar, being careful not to squash any bees.
- Leave in place until fully consumed. If made with sugar and water, check occasionally for signs of fungus growth and remove if necessary.