Quick thoughts on feeding sugar to bees

Just some quick thoughts on how to feed sugar to bees. Use only white sugar! Raw sugar contains more material that bees cannot digest and can lead to dysentry and gut issues in the bees.

I'm only focussing on sugar here - carboydrates. Obviously, bees also need protein, which they obtain through pollen. If they are low on pollen, then you may also need to supplement pollen. This will be a topic for another post.

Different types of sugar feed

1:1 syrup (1kg white sugar to 1 litre of water)

- dissolve sugar thoroughly

- "light" syrup

2:1 syrup (2kg white sugar to 1 litre water)

- need to use hot water for the sugar to fully dissolve

- "heavy" syrup

Fondant

- sugar fondant made by heating sugar and a little water to "soft ball" candy stage. Allow to cool slightly, then mix continuously until it forms a smooth white fondant.

- can be tricky to make, requires candy thermometer and if you go too hot can create sugars that can be bad for bees.

- easier to buy, but more expensive and need to be absolutely sure it's pure sugar fondant with no other additives - bakery fondant may contain thickeners that are bad for bees

"Mountain camp" sugar bricks

- add a small amount of water to 1-2kg of sugar, and mix thoroughly. The mixture shouldn't be runny, just slightly damp. Press firmly into a baking tray lined with paper. Leave until the damp sugar sets into a candy-like consistency.

Using sugar feed for your hives

Light syrup is most commonly used. Hive top feeders (ceracell, nuplas and others make hive top feeders) or even just a ziplock bag with a few pinholes can be used to let the bees feed off the syrup. Some hive top feeders (round feeders and jar feeders) may need an inner cover and extra super to cover them. Bees with typically consume light syrup immediately. Stimulates hygiene, wax production, and brood rearing. Light syrup can induce a bit of robbing.

Heavy syrup simulates honey, so bees often store it before consuming unless they are starving. It is often used in cold climates to "bulk up" hives before over-wintering. Bees more likely to store heavy syrup and use later.

Fondant is excellent winter feed and it maximises sugar availability for bees without any excess moisture, unlike syrup. Additives can be incorporated for gut health (ie HiveAlive fondant)

Mountain camp "sugar bricks" are somewhat like fondant, high sugar, low moisture. Getting the consistency right is important, otherwise the bees simply tear it up and discard the dry sugar out the front of the hive. Needs to be well cemented together in a reasonably solid block. The moisture in the hive will slowly wet the sugar brick, and the bees will consume that sugar throughout winter.