The temperature is fluctuating between 35 and 50 on any given day. A bit too cold to open the hive and spend a lot of time with your bees.
However, it's a very good time to prepare some sugar patties and pollen patties as a preventative for the bees. I also add a little "Honey-B-Healthy".
However, it's a very good time to prepare some sugar patties and pollen patties as a preventative for the bees. I also add a little "Honey-B-Healthy".
Add some Honey-B-Healthy, to give the girls a boost. It has some essential oils and other good stuff, which has been shown to aid in prevention of tracheal mites. It also smells really good.
Elsewhere on the site, you will find a basic recipe for the sugar patties. Basically, you mix a lot of sugar with some Crisco or other Vegetable based shortening, and make some patties with it. Make the patties and put these on wax paper. I do make some slits in the paper to help the bees. You can then cut these to the size you need. Place the patties on the top of the bars of the hive.
Elsewhere on the site, you will find a basic recipe for the sugar patties. Basically, you mix a lot of sugar with some Crisco or other Vegetable based shortening, and make some patties with it. Make the patties and put these on wax paper. I do make some slits in the paper to help the bees. You can then cut these to the size you need. Place the patties on the top of the bars of the hive.
True story: When you mix all this together, it looks like icing. In fact, I had it sitting out on the counter while I went to get some wax paper, and three of my kids tried the "icing". Reports are out that they had fresh breath and no colds for the next several weeks.!
Finally, the shortening in the mix supplies bees with some fat. It is also supposed to help with some cleanliness issues associated with Varroa Mites.
As to the pollen patties, I order these. It helps the bees feed whatever brood are gestating, and provides some protein based food for them while we wait for the first pollen of the spring.
Again, put these on the top of the bars of the hive. I peel off the paper as these are a bit more sturdy than your sugar patties and less subject to melting. The bees will make quick work of both of these, but why make them chew through the paper? So don't. As with my earlier post on Candy Boards, I may even try to "stick" this patty to the underside of the inner cover.
Finally, the shortening in the mix supplies bees with some fat. It is also supposed to help with some cleanliness issues associated with Varroa Mites.
As to the pollen patties, I order these. It helps the bees feed whatever brood are gestating, and provides some protein based food for them while we wait for the first pollen of the spring.
Again, put these on the top of the bars of the hive. I peel off the paper as these are a bit more sturdy than your sugar patties and less subject to melting. The bees will make quick work of both of these, but why make them chew through the paper? So don't. As with my earlier post on Candy Boards, I may even try to "stick" this patty to the underside of the inner cover.
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