feeding sugar syrup questions

[chickenwing654]

Hi,
I've been bucket feeding sugar syrup (1 to 1) past couple of weeks since finding zero stores in all my hives.  They have been sucking dry the buckets with very little (if any)  being stored in cells.  Been finding lots of bees, pollen but no nectar/sugar syrup stores.  I live in MA and also have some in Eastern Maine (both have no stores).  I have top hive feeders, don't like the frame feeders due to drowning so I am trying the bucket feeders now.

Wondering If I should change to a 2 to 1 sugar syrup instead to get them to store.  Maybe one of each (1 to 1 or 2 to 1 syrup)?  What are your thoughts going forward?

thanks
Tazz

[cao]

Whenever I feed it is always at least 2 to 1.  The thicker the better IMO.  I don't know whether your bees will store it or not. 

[iddee]

2X1 for storing.
1X1 for feeding and making more bees.

[Sledin]

I haven't looked since I pulled the honey a week ago, but I'm open feeding 20 gallons water to 80kgs sugar. I'm hoping it's going into stores.
(Used a trolling motor to mix, turned it on and poured in the sugar, let it go for a couple hours)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sc-bee]

I've been bucket feeding sugar syrup (1 to 1) past couple of weeks since finding zero stores in all my hives.  They have been sucking dry the buckets with very little (if any)  being stored in cells. 

Any chance the neighborhood is getting most of it and not your bees. That is a draw back to open feeding. I like jar top feeders so you can target feed........if the number of hives in manageable....

[chickenwing654]

No,
I believe they are my bees.  It is like a highway from and to the hive from the feeder  bucket.  I even checked by throwing some powdered sugar on the bees from the bucket feeder.   The powdered sugar was on the bees returning to the hive 250 feet away. 

I have three top feeders that I added a 2 to 1 syrup today.  I have 9 hives between Maine and Ma.  They had some stored syrup on todays quick inspection.

Thanks
David

[Hops Brewster]

I haven't looked since I pulled the honey a week ago, but I'm open feeding 20 gallons water to 80kgs sugar. I'm hoping it's going into stores.
(Used a trolling motor to mix, turned it on and poured in the sugar, let it go for a couple hours)

S trolling motor?  Dang!  You need to get out fishing more!

[Sledin]

I haven't looked since I pulled the honey a week ago, but I'm open feeding 20 gallons water to 80kgs sugar. I'm hoping it's going into stores.
(Used a trolling motor to mix, turned it on and poured in the sugar, let it go for a couple hours)

S trolling motor?  Dang!  You need to get out fishing more!

I don't deny that!

The open feeding was a fail, I think only the one strong hive got enough, so I wonder where the other 60kgs of sugar went.
I combined the two weakest hives and am feeding directly into the hive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BeeMaster2]

That sugar water went to your neighbors hives and to any feral hives. A good reason not to open feed.
Jim