Wooo a few things I do not like to see. First open feeding: that encourages robbing because once that bucket runs dry they will go on a robbing binge and so those nucs nearby without darn good robbing screens would be prime picking. Second: mites and disease can spread at an open feeder like that. Third: all that solution that was running onto the ground was wasted sugar water. You talk about sugar cost and yet there went a lot of your money. Put the pails over a cookie sheet and put some sawdust or sand on it so it will give the bees something to walk on while they pick the sugar syrup off of it. All that said I MUCH prefer to top feed. Feeder pails on the inner cover work well. The reason this is better is they can take the syrup down 24/7. They don't have to wait until warm flying weather to get out so it is much more efficient for them. They don't have to fly, only walk to go get the syrup. It is also all internal to the hive so no robbing. And if you really want to feed them fast, then Mann Lake (and others) make top feeders that hold 4 gallons of syrup and literally thousands of bees can feed from them at a time and they do it 24/7 so you would shocked how fast they will use it. I just finished putting over 200 pounds of sugar on my 10 hives and I did it in under 7 days.
i discovered if you have an electric/cordless drill, you can buy a paint mixing attachment made for 5 gallon buckets from home depot/lowes to mix up your syrup. maybe you wont get those arm muscle gains, but its way faster and more consistent mixing :) thanks Bruce's Bees!
Emily, the mountain camp method for feeding bees in the winter works great. The heat from the bees will condense with the cold air causing moisture and the sugar will absorb the moisture. I use top hive feeders on every hive for the winter as an emergency food and to absorb the moisture. I set every hive where the front is lower than the rear so any condensation will run to the front and down the wall of the hive or in my case runs to the front of the feeder and down into the sugar. I use the round top feeders that holds 2 quarts of syrup and it will hold a 4 lb bag of sugar. If the bees need it and eat it fine, if not I pull it off in the early spring and make 1:1 syrup for feeding early splits. If I have a warm day in January I will refill the sugar if needed. I’ve been involved with bees 6 years and never lost a colony in the winter and I’m not saying I haven’t lost colonies. If I loose a colony it’s normally in August and that’s from an abscond or getting robbed out. I’m located in central AL and location makes a big difference. Thanks and good luck.
Half of the attraction to mountain camp is that the dry sugar absorbs moisture. Candy boards are basically the same, once they dry its dry sugar, just in a solid block.
Water, 8 pounds the world 'round. 1.5 gallons[12#s] plus 25# bag of sugar makes 3+ gallons of approximately 2:1 heavy syrup. I have the same bucket feeder. I found that if the lid was supported all the way around there was less leaking from the lid. Thanks for posting good straight forward information. peace, Brice
I made sugar bricks in pie tins thin enough to fit in the shim, really worked great last winter. I used a little pollen sub and added it to the sugar brick in the late winter to keep a little brood going into spring. I feed about a pint of syrup every day to build stores, the bees will put it up more like honey than the heavy syrup.
You are right in regards that bees will consume the honey as they grow their brood nest in late winter. But what you need to leave them, is space in open cells so they can go into them to cluster. Good videos by the way.
Great video. Beekeeper in the UK. I feed regularly 2:1 in fall until they wont take it any more, never known my bees to overfill. Never had to feed any solid feed. I add some thymol essential oil to all my fall feeds to prevent nosema over winter and it also works to stop it spoiling. :)
I just started beekeeping in May. Well you could actually say I started in February since that is when I ordered my hive boxes. I got my nuc in early May and the bees were doing great for about 2 months, then the rain stopped and the heat set in. I had to start feeding mid-summer as there was absolutely zero nectar flow until the Goldenrod and ragweed began blooming mid-September. I am about to start my first winter so we'll see how it goes. They have the entire top deep (10 frame) loaded to the gills with honey and I have the insulation (2-inch siding insulation) ready just in case, as we saw several days well below zero last winter and reached negative 17 a couple of times.
1) the frame feeders will get the ladders propolized (is that a word?) if not kept full. I have to disassemble and clean them frequently. i like the ones with the white "cone" ladders so they can be removed easily, instead of the one piece tops like you showed. 2) i stopped using the buckets as feeders because there is always some syrup left in the bucket they can't get to and if not level (as you showed) they free flow. I started using the black and yellow heavy duty storage totes with holes drilled in the sides. no need to level them, as there is little level ground where i have my bees. i am not a "content provider" but i have a video on my page about how i use the totes as both syrup feeders and pollen sub feeders.
In the UK we use bakers fondant for winter feeding when it's needed a few ways of doing some put it directly on the top of the frams in big blocks and some put it on top of the crown bored works well. There is one old boy I know of that only feeds fondant even in late summer/autumn feeding and never feed sugar syrup he says they store it just the same I have never tried it myself.
I made me one of those years ago and it works great as long as they are hungry for syrup. A little vinegar helps stop the syrup from spoiling. I have a paint stirrer to put on the cordless drill to mix mine. At 7:49 it proves you're a true beekeeper with bees buzzing in the car. Thanks!
Emily, I have tried the bucket method that you are using and I am sure you know by now that you have bees drown in the pockets. I have found a much better way of using bucket feeder with minimum lose of bees. If you use the type of lid that you fasten on and the center screws off and on. Snap the lid on then turn it upside down mark around the lip with a marker then take the whole lid assembly off and drill holes just under the mark that you made and the top of the bucket. I have the best luck with IFA buckets and black Home Depot lids, they seem to seal better and they have rubber gaskets on the screw part of the lid and and the part where the lid fits the top of the bucket. Warm sunny days, there are times when I will have to use 5 buckets because the bees are so thick from feeding and they will still go thru a bucket of sugar water a day. Honestly, sometimes I will add Honey Bee Healthy to slow them down, they don't seem to go thru it as fast when I add it. If I knew how to send pictures I would be happy to show you how I did the buckets.
Thank you for sharing this!! I screenshotted it so I can try making one! The problem I’m having with my buckets is the suction. If k don’t have them tilted then after they gain an internal pressure nothing will come out of the holes. So far if I keep them tilted they seem to do better
Keep up the great videos! Just a tip on 2 to 1 sugar, if you put your sugar in the bucket first and mark the bucket at the top of the sugar, then put in some hot water just to start mixing, once you have got it starting to blend together fill to the mark on your bucket and that will be 2 to 1 mix. The Bee Whisperer has a video on RU-vid. I also add a couple ounces of vodka to prevent the mold. I look forward to your upcoming videos.
I learned this from another beekeeper, when making 2 to 1... Dump 25 pounds of sugar in a 5 gallon bucket, then level it as best you can, use a black marker at level. This is your water level for 2 to 1, I use a long paint mixer on my drill to mix, easy peasy...
I only have one hive so I'm feeding them using a top feeder some 1:1 sugar water with a little honey bee heathy and dry pollen mixed in, they're emptying a half gallon jar in 2-3 days. I used an in hive feeder with my first set of bees and they literally starved to death in the spring because it was unusually cold and windy so they clustered and never went to get the syrup. I'll never use an in hive feeder again. When it gets too cold for liquid feeding in the next month or so then I plan on using David Burns (I heartily recommend his youtube channel) Winter-Bee-Kind, basically a candy board with insulation on top and an upper entrance. It seemed like the best option for getting my bees through the Wisconsin winter.
My fall feeding is similar to your's except I mix my sugar with a paint mixer in a cordless drill. I mix a 25lb. bag of sugar to 1-1/2 gallons of very hot water (not boiling hot of course). I bucket feed on top of each hive with a one gallon bucket. I really don't like the "robbing" that happens when you open feed. I'm in my 4th year of Beekeeping and my only regret is not starting 20 years ago. I always enjoy your videos, keep up the great work.
Great talk! I really enjoyed it. I do not use the dry sugar method at all! I’m in the south so only 1:1 or 2:1 feeding, works well. If you have a week hive, put an inner cover over the bottom and an empty box on top. I put a feeder inside the empty box. I made some bases to cover the inner cover hole, with sugar water over it. Direct feeding, line the upper box with wool, old blankets or burlap. Helps with warmth, keeps feed from freezing, and easy access to refill.
Great video, I just fed 800 lbs of sugar via 2-1 syrup open feeding. As you expand get yourself a heavy duty propane burner ( stronger than a turkey fryer) and huge pot. I mix approximately 5 gallons water to 28 kgs sugar ( 61 lbs sugar) . Put on low heat very quick and efficient love it. Never found open feeding causing robbing, only downfall you tend to feed bees in a 3 mile radius. I stopped feeding for 10 days had one hive super light. Guess what probably weighs 70-80 lbs in that 10 days ( only do singles) and no substantial nectar flow. With that being said I read that top feeding the best cuz your bees won’t be exposed to possible sick bees from other bee yards. Dosnt make difference bees are mingling within a three mile radius. Paul Kelly university of Guelph has great videos he says a 40 gallon barrel of 2-1 syrup per 10 single hives should do the trick. Happy feeding the girls are true oinkers with their ocd behaviour when it comes to gorging syrup. We will soon all have our girls tucked in. I never check in winter, but end January will start to gently lift hive to ch3ck for stores. A infrared thermal gun is fun to have in dead of winter pretty cool.
Instead of Ted Talks...Emily Talks😁Super cool with the bucket that is Genius with the holes and totally reminded me of Halloween when u were mixing it up🧙♀️🎃🦇🐀😂Are u having any problems with rando bees coming over and stealing the sugar water tho? Amazing how Fast those little bees can take down one of those buckets too🤯Teenage boys indeed🤣I can totally see how this would be a stressful time but sounds to me like ur bees r in the best possible position they can bee in so🐝🤞🐝Really cool camera angle too when u drove up on the camera by the way I enjoyed that shot and rando but ur flooring on ur house is Beautiful I love wood flooring like that just screams character and history if these floors could talk☺️Well Thank U for making my Sunday with ur Emily Talk and Good luck and Hope ur having a Great weekend so far! See U in the next one my Favorite Keeper!😊👑🐝💛#winteriscoming #beefitbeekeeping #beefithoney #emilyisthebeesknees #emilytalks #thankyouforcomingtomyemilytalk
hot water from the tap and a little apple cider vinegar. the vinegar helps stop the mold, mildew and fermentation. if tap water isn’t hot enough, the water heater is to low. also, using a paint mixer in a drill helps dissolve the sugar into the water. the whole “change the makeup of the sugar” thing is not “settled” as many people would have you believe. filling the buckets up as much as possible will help with the air lock to eliminate the dribbling much quicker.
mountain camp method is place news paper on the top bars very lightly mist it, then pour about an inch layer of sugar, leave about 1/2 inch open around the edges of the paper to the feeding shim, mist the layer of sugar then add another layer of sugar and mist it on top, the bee's wil chew holes through the paper and eat the sugar as needed, the light misting makes the sugar semi- firm, but not brick hard it also acts as vapor barrier so the bees don't have condensation dripping down on the bees, 4 pounds of sugar equals about 1 capped frame of honey in 6 1/4" frames.
The down side of feeding with dry sugar is that the bees would carry the sugar and throw them out of the hive. Sugar cake made from water and sugar breaks easily and the bees would throw out the small pieces too. I make my sugar cake with sugar and 1:1 sugar syrup (hot water mix), it is hard like a brick but still absorb moisture and feed the bees, worked great.
Nectar's PH varies greatly from 4.2-8.5 from the research I've seen. I add Apple Cider Vinegar to my sugar syrup as I will not add something like bleach which is a chemical to prevent mold. The MAIN reason I do it is mold prevention but it also helps bring up the PH some as well. I've been doing this for years and have seen no issues from my bees nor do I see any detrimental effects as I use 1/4 cup to 1 gallon usually so it's not overused and compared to the overall amount of sugar syrup vs ACV I don't see it as a negative.
you have lots of nucs. my preferred hive as well. 80-90 lb honey stores is for a double deep 10 frame hives not nucs. i think people might get confused on this.
For true 2 to 1 sugar syrup it's 25 pounds of white sugar to 1.47 gallons of water. If we're you, I'd be adding some Apis.Biologix supplement to your syurp.
Ty for a great video, your bee your way.👍 I'll keep adding a bit of apple cider vinegar to my syrup learnt it for a old timer did him well. Will be adding some Apis Biologix when it gets here for some Fall fattening. Ya my 10 colonies will take their bucket in about 3 days but you got more bees then I do. How many do you have feeding off the bucket? Did you get those feeders from Mother Lode? Take that single and put it over a strong wit ha double divider board?
Your sugar is double the price than sugar here in belgium ( europe ) . Here 5.9 euro for 10 kg . I think all buy sugar now , most of the time there is no sugar in the shop ( the cheap one )
@@beefitbeekeeping I have a question . I was stung by a bee and my foot is swollen and there are 2 swelling with fluid in them ... Do you have more or less problems when you get stung by a bee ?
My bees have been doing this thing were they bundle together on the landing pad a Lil on top.of each other and kind of look like there cleaning each other but not really tbh I don't know what they are doing...never seen them do this before
Ha good video it would be eaiser on you if you got a drill and a paint mixer I did every thing the same way u are doing for a long time a drill and the mixer made my life easy. Hope u have a great day
One thing I've learned from 10 years of bee keeping.... sit in a room of bee keepers and say how you do something and EVERYONE of them will tell you that your way is wrong and their way is the only way that is right....smdh
You really need to meet me and I will share with you many secrets of bee keeping . Plus if you add pollen sun to that sugar water it will really build comb drawing . Again you need to meet me we can talk bees for years .
Mountain camp gets a big no from me. Never doing it again. Real fondant right on the frames seems like the best option for singles this late in the game if they don't put on weight.
I fed my 3 hives dry sugar the entire winter and all 3 came out loaded with bees and brood so your statement that bees don’t like dry sugar don’t hold much credibility with me. Sorry
