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Wintering is considered the most stressful period for bees. Survival in conditions of low temperature directly depends on the amount of stored food. Therefore, feeding bees for the winter with sugar syrup significantly increases the chances of a successful winter.
Benefits of overwintering bees on sugar syrup
If the Hymenoptera did not have time to prepare the required amount of food for the winter, the beekeeper feeds them with sugar syrup. This method is subject to time limits. Sugar syrup is considered healthier than artificial additives. Its benefits include:
- reducing the risk of upset stool in bees;
- increased immunity;
- good digestibility;
- reduced likelihood of rot in the hive;
- prevention of infectious diseases.
Despite the advantages, not all beekeepers use sugar syrup as a top dressing. It should be served in small portions, warm. The bees do not eat cold food. In addition, feeding the bees for the winter with syrup leads to their early awakening in the spring, which does not always have a good effect on the quality of the work of insects.
The need to feed bees with sugar syrup
In autumn, the inhabitants of the hive are preoccupied with harvesting honey for the wintering period. Sometimes beekeepers take stock in order to increase the profitability of the apiary. In some cases, the need to feed the bees is forced. Feeding bees in winter with syrup is carried out in the following cases:
- weakened state of the bee family;
- the bulk of the reserves consists of honeydew honey;
- the need to compensate for a bribe from a hive set aside for the winter;
- poor quality honey.
When to feed bees with syrup for the winter
Top dressing with sugar syrup should be carried out in accordance with the established deadlines. By September, the nests should be completely ready for wintering. It is advisable to start feeding the bees with sugar syrup for the winter from the beginning of August. If in September-October the requirement of Hymenoptera for nutrients is maintained, the dosage of feed is increased. Feeding in the winter is carried out on an ongoing basis.
To properly feed the bee family, you need to pay attention to the location of the feeder in the hive. It should not restrict the movement of Hymenoptera. It is advisable to place top dressing in the upper part of the bee dwelling. Food stored for the winter should not interfere with air exchange in the hive. Be sure to leave free space above the frames.
How to feed bees in winter with sugar syrup
Top dressing with sugar syrup for the winter in beekeeping is carried out strictly according to the rules. It is strictly forbidden to feed hymenoptera earlier or later than the allotted time. In the second case, the insects simply will not be able to properly process the food. At temperatures below 10 ° C, the ability to produce invertase decreases sharply. This will lead to a decrease in immune protection or death of the bees.
The composition of the syrup for feeding bees for the winter
There are several options for a syrup recipe for bees for the winter. They differ not only in components, but also in consistency. In some cases, lemon, honey, industrial invertase or vinegar are added to the classic feeding option. To change the consistency of the feed, it is enough to choose the right proportions of sugar syrup for bees in the winter. To make the food thick, 600 ml will require 800 g of granulated sugar. To prepare liquid feed, 600 ml of water is mixed with 600 g of sugar. For the preparation of sour bait, the following components will be required:
- 6 L of water;
- 14 g citric acid;
- 7 kg of granulated sugar.
Cooking process:
- The components are mixed in an enamel pan and put on the stove.
- After boiling, the fire is reduced to a minimum value.
- Within 3 hours, the food reaches the desired consistency.
- After cooling, the syrup can be given to the bee family.
Syrup based on industrial invertase is distinguished by good digestibility. For its preparation it is necessary:
- 5 kg of sugar;
- 2 g invertase;
- 5 L of water.
Algorithm cooking:
- The sugar base is boiled according to the classic recipe for 3 hours.
- After the syrup has cooled to a temperature of 40 ° C, invertase is added to it.
- Within 2 days, the syrup is defended, waiting for the end of fermentation.
To prepare a bait with the addition of honey, the following components are used:
- 750 g of honey;
- 2,4 g of acetic acid crystals;
- 725 grams of sugar;
- 2 L of water.
Recipe:
- The ingredients are mixed in a deep container.
- For 5 days, the dishes are cleaned in a room with a temperature of 35 ° C.
- Throughout the time of settling, the syrup is stirred 3 times a day.
To increase the resistance of Hymenoptera to various diseases, cobalt chloride is added to sugar syrup. It is sold in pharmacies in tablet form. For 2 liters of the finished solution, 2 tablets of cobalt are required. The resulting feeding is often used to increase the activity of young individuals.
Sometimes cow’s milk is added to the syrup. The product makes it most similar in composition to the food habitual for bees. In this case, the following components are used:
- 800 ml of milk;
- 3,2 L of water;
- 3 kg of sugar.
Feeding Recipe:
- Feeding is cooked according to the classical scheme, using 20% less water than usual.
- After the syrup has cooled to a temperature of 45°C, milk is added.
- After mixing the components, the food is fed to the bee family.
What is the best syrup to give bees for the winter
Food for hymenoptera is selected individually, depending on the state of the family and the purpose of feeding. With the help of feeding, the following tasks are solved:
- rearing queens;
- replenishment of vitamin reserves;
- prevention of early scarring of queens;
- prevention of diseases in the bee family;
- boosting immunity before the first flight.
During the entire wintering period, several types of food can be combined. But most often, beekeepers use a recipe that involves the addition of honey. It is considered the most useful for Hymenoptera. But it is not recommended to use honey made from the nectar of rapeseed, mustard, fruit or rapeseed.
How much syrup to give bees for the winter
The concentration of syrup for bees for the winter depends on the time of year and the life cycle of the bee family. In winter, insects are fed in small portions – 30 g per day.
How to prepare syrup for bees for the winter
During wintering bees eat top dressing instead of honey. In order not to be constantly distracted by the replenishment of the sugar solution, you should make a preparation in advance. Feeding is boiled in large volumes, after which it is poured into portions. The amount of feed is determined by climatic conditions. In some areas, bees need to be fed for 8 months. In cold years, up to 750 g of top dressing will be required for one month.
The preparation of syrup for bees in the winter should be carried out on water that does not have mineral impurities. It must be boiled and left for several hours. A saucepan made of non-oxidizing materials is used as a container for mixing and cooking ingredients.
How to properly feed
For laying bait in the hive, a special feeder is used. The most common is the frame feeder. It is a wooden box in which liquid food can be placed. The frame is placed in the hive, not far from the ball of bees. If in winter there is a need for top dressing, solid food is placed in the hive – in the form of a candy or fudge. It is important to prevent bees from flying out of the hive during restocking.
Methods for laying food
There are several options for laying food in a bee hive. These include:
- plastic bags;
- honeycomb;
- feeders;
- glass jars.
When honeycomb-free wintering of bees on sugar syrup, glass jars are often used. The neck is tied with gauze, which ensures dosing of feed. The jar is turned over and placed in this position on the bottom of the hive. Putting food in the combs is practiced only for feeding in the autumn. Under the influence of low temperature, the sugar solution will become too solid.
Feeding bees for the winter with sugar syrup in bags
The use of packing bags as containers is the cheapest way to store feed. Their distinctive feature is the passage of aromas, which allows the bees to independently find food. There is no need to pierce the bags, the bees will do it themselves.
The bags are filled with bait and tied with a strong knot. They are laid out on the top frame. From above, it is desirable to insulate the structure. The spreading of top dressing must be carried out carefully so as not to crush the hymenoptera.
Watching the bees after feeding
Cooking syrup for bees for the winter is not the most difficult thing. It is necessary to carefully control the process of wintering bees. If necessary, re-feeding is carried out. Sometimes it happens that the inhabitants of the hive ignore the feeder, while not showing much activity. The reasons for this phenomenon include:
- spread of infection in the hive;
- getting into the feed of an extraneous odor that repels bees;
- a large amount of brood in the combs;
- too late feeding;
- fermentation of prepared syrup.
Winter inspections should be carried out at least once every 1-2 weeks. If the family is weakened, then the frequency of examinations is increased to 3 time per week. First you should carefully listen to the hive. A low rumble should come from within. To look inside, you need to carefully open the lid. Do not open the hive in windy and frosty weather. It is advisable to choose the warmest possible day.
On examination, it is necessary to fix the location of the tangle and evaluate the behavior of Hymenoptera. Top dressing in the form of honeycombs is placed flat in the hive. It is equally important to determine whether there is excessive moisture in the bee dwelling. Under the influence of sub-zero temperatures, it contributes to the freezing of the family.
If high-quality feeding is left for the winter, there is no need for frequent anxiety of the bee family. It is only necessary to periodically listen to the sounds coming from inside the bee dwelling. Experienced beekeepers are able to determine the state of their wards by sound.
Conclusion
Feeding bees for the winter with sugar syrup helps them endure the winter without complications. Of great importance is the quality and quantity of feed. The ratio of syrup for bees in the winter is proportional to the size of the family.
