Dangers, Advantages, and Very best Practices- Carolina Honeybees


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Feeding honey again in your bees turns out like the very best answer for colonies short of meals. Finally, what might be able to be higher for them than honey – their number one meals supply. Then again, this isn’t at all times the most productive answer. Whilst honey does supply bees with the vital vitamins, there are some severe dangers concerned. On this information, you’ll be informed the professionals and cons of feeding honey to bees and how you can mitigate the dangers if you make a decision to continue.

Honey bees feeding on honey from a wooden dipper

As a Grasp Beekeeper, I hardly ever feed honey to my hives. Whilst I do percentage some complete frames a number of the colonies, my number one way of supplemental diet is feeding sugar water to my bees. However, when you’re in a state of affairs the place you need to make use of honey – you’ll with some warning.

Advantages and Dangers of Feeding Honey to Your Beehives

Without equal beekeeper function is for his or her colonies to feed themselves. However, there will likely be eventualities the place hives want additional meals to live on, particularly throughout occasions of shortage or a nectar dearth.

Any time when herbal nectar assets are unavailable or restricted, feeding can lend a hand the hives handle power or recuperate. For the ones all for herbal beekeeping, feeding honey to bee colonies could also be preferable to the usage of synthetic substitutes.  

Benefits of Honey as Feed

  • mimics the herbal vitamin (what bees most often consume) a liquid meals
  • supplies very important vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants that sugar water lacks
  • beekeepers frequently have extra honey left over from extraction – it is a just right use

In spite of those benefits, the verdict to feed honey calls for cautious attention, as now not all honey is secure for bees. Working out each the advantages and dangers is secret to meaking an educated resolution.

Sick dying honey bee, beekeeping looking for signs of disease and reduced entrance of beehive to prevent robbing.

Attainable Dangers

In spite of all of the causes that feeding bees honey is a great plan, there are severe dangers and disadvantages. In some instances, honey could also be extra damaging as colony meals than useful.

You will have to in moderation imagine the supply, situation and high quality of honey ahead of providing it in your hives.

  • spreading illness
  • chemical contamination – residue
  • low high quality honey-sick bees
  • bee robbing

Possibility of Illness

It is very important by no means feed honey in your bees from unknown or unverified assets. While you use shop obtained honey and even honey from different beekeepers, you can not ensure of its starting place and high quality.

Bee sicknesses akin to American Foulbrood (AFB) unfold simply via honey. Infected honey can devastate a wholesome hive – even the entire apiary. You’ll now not inform if illness spores are provide simply by taking a look at it.

Unknown honey additionally poses a chance of being infected with different ingredients. It might not be natural – containing components akin to top fructose corn syrup. Those could cause your honey bees to be ill – and possibly have dysentery that weakens the colony.

Chemical Residues

If the honey was once accumulated from spaces the place herbicides or insecticides are closely used, it’ll include residues that might impact the well being of your bees.

This additionally applies to a couple kinds of varroa mite therapies that may collect within the colony comb and honey. While you use honey from your individual hives, you must know from your individual beekeeping information – what has been completed to the hive.

Low High quality Honey

Whilst it’s completely high-quality to feed honey in your bees that may not be a top of the range desk product, it must nonetheless be just right honey.

Any honey that has fermented because of top moisture could also be rejected via the colony. And, in the event that they do consume it – they are going to endure digestive issues.

Robbing within the Apiary

The principle reason why that I don’t feed honey to my colonies is the danger of bee robbing. Honey has a particular odor and bees can come across it from miles away.

In my revel in, the dangers of beginning a robbing frenzy within the bee backyard makes feeding liquid honey now not well worth the chance.

Find out how to Safely Feed Honey to Bees

One of the vital most secure tactics to feed honey in your bees is via the usage of honey produced via the similar hive or different wholesome hives for your apiary. Additionally, use the feeding way much less more likely to create extra issues – robbing of the hives.

Use Your Honey from Your Hives (or a Depended on Supply)

Use high quality honey this is in just right situation. It must be liquid and loose from fermentation. Crystallized honey can be utilized if you happen to gently heat it first. Don’t overheat it. Simply sufficient heat to deliver it again to a liquid state.

Strategies for Feeding

  • complete frames
  • blended with water
  • shallow dish
Full frame of partially capped honey ready to feed to beehive.

Feeding complete frames of honey to hives in want is the most suitable option. Frequently, those frames had been saved in a freezer. Allow them to thaw after which change empty frames within the hive bins with complete frames. That is the most secure choice – however it’s not at all times sensible.

Infographic with jar of honey and directions to dilute with water.

Combine Honey with Water – Honey is thick and the bees would possibly combat a bit of when consuming it in massive quantities. Combine honey with heat (now not scorching) water in a 1:1 ratio and stir till dissolved. Your aggregate must now not be like a skinny syrup.

At this level you’ll provide it in your bees in several types of bee feeders. Inverted jars with small holes within the lids are a easy choice – however I might enclose the jars within an empty field at the hive. Don’t use the jar front feeders – this is simply soliciting for bother from robbers.

Honey bees being fed excess liquid honey that gather with their proboscis.

Shallow Dish – Merely pouring honey on a large, shallow dish will even paintings. In my opinion, I see extra bees drown with this system. I might dribble the honey in little streams throughout a big flat floor.

After all, this isn’t sensible except you might be simplest the usage of a small quantity. Honey bees drown simply. Position some plant leaves, sticks, small branches, and many others within the shallow dish. This must be completed some distance away out of your hives – don’t feed bees close to the hive.

Observe Colonies After Feeding

Anytime you might be offering supplemental meals in your hives, track job for a couple of days. Stay up for indicators of bother from ants (stay ants out of the beehive) and particularly robber bees.

Cut back hive entrances to a small opening if had to lend a hand the colony give protection to itself. Additionally, periodically test the meals shops of the hive so you understand when to prevent feeding.

FAQs

Can I feed store-bought honey to my bees?

No, it’s now not advisable to feed store-bought honey to bees. Industrial honey can include components, chemical compounds, or even illness spores which can be damaging to bees.

How a lot honey must I feed to my bees at one time?

The volume of honey to feed is dependent upon the colony’s wishes and the time of 12 months. For emergency feeding, a small shallow dish or a body of honey could also be sufficient.

Can I feed crystallized honey to bees?

Sure, you’ll feed crystallized honey to bees, nevertheless it’s absolute best to softly heat it till it returns to a liquid state. This may make it more straightforward for the bees to eat.

It’s secure to feed fermented honey to my bees?

No, fermented honey must now not be fed to beehives as a result of it will probably purpose digestive issues. Keep away from honey that smells yeasty.

Ultimate Ideas

By way of the usage of blank, secure honey from a depended on supply and following the correct feeding strategies, you’ll feed honey in your bees with minimum dangers. Be recommended of the dangers concerned and cut back those who you’ll. At all times track the hive’s development and modify your feeding practices as had to handle a wholesome, thriving colony.

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