Candy Boards

[tefer2]

  I'm in the process of making up a few candy boards for some early fall swarms. When is the best time to get them on the hives ? 

[Robo]

Soon as you get your first frost.

[specialkayme]

MDA Splitter tells folks to put them on January 1st.

I don't have any personal experience though.

[tefer2]

  The MDA guy lives in my neck of the woods. I don't how I feel about opening my hives in the middle of winter to add the candy. I got my candy board idea from Robos World. Thanks by the way.
If I placed them on the first hard frost they would be half gone with this Seventy degree weather were having.

[specialkayme]

If I placed them on the first hard frost they would be half gone with this Seventy degree weather were having.

Make sure you give them enough candy?

[tecumseh]

a tefer2 snip...
'When'

tecumseh:
optimally before they starve.  most folks consider candy boards to be emergency feed rations and I would expect at your location they need to be in place before the hard winter blows in only if you think their feed stock in the hive is wanting.  of course if you had sufficient feed in the hive then a candy board's placement might wait until spring.

[specialkayme]

  The MDA guy lives in my neck of the woods.

I thought he lived in NY?

[tefer2]

  Mel lives in Wyoming, Michigan. Close to Grand Rapids

[tefer2]

  These couple of swarms were so late in the season that I could not get them to where they will not need help. Should have combined them. I will have a go at adding the candy just before the freezer kicks in. March is the time we worry up here in Great Lakes area. These Italians don't know when to shut down like my Carnies do.

[jimmyo]

Ours go on around Thanksgiving time. 
Jim

[specialkayme]

  Mel lives in Wyoming, Michigan. Close to Grand Rapids

I stand corrected. Why was I thinking NY? Whatever, doesn't matter.

[slacker361]

i thought you were suppose to wait till they came to your door ,rang the bell, and say "trick or treat" before giving them candy?         :evil:         :evil:         :evil:

[AllenF]

 :-D

[Dr. B in Wisconsin]

 :? How do you make a candy board, how thick and how big should it bee?

[AllenF]

Here is how to make  http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20951.0.html

[buzzbee]

:? How do you make a candy board, how thick and how big should it bee?

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/

[tefer2]

I made mine last year from Robos emergency feeding. I put wax paper on the floor and pour mixture into the frame up to entrance cut out. I first added a Megabee pattie and poured the candy over it.