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Wintering is considered to be the most stressful period for bees. Survival in low temperature conditions directly depends on the amount of stored food. Therefore, feeding the bees for the winter with sugar syrup significantly increases the chances of successfully enduring the winter.
Benefits of wintering 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 regulated by a time frame. Sugar syrup is considered to be healthier than artificial additives. Its benefits include:
- reducing the risk of stool disorder in bees;
- increased immunity;
- good digestibility;
- reduced likelihood of rot formation in the hive;
- prevention of infectious diseases.
Despite the advantages, not all beekeepers use sugar syrup as a top dressing. It should be served warm in small portions. 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 insects' work.
The need to feed bees with sugar syrup
In autumn, the inhabitants of the hive are concerned with harvesting honey for the wintering period. Sometimes beekeepers take stocks 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 postponed for the winter;
- poor quality honey collection.
When to feed bees with syrup for the winter
Feeding 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 hymenoptera's need for nutrients remains, the feed dosage 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 the Hymenoptera. It is advisable to place top dressing at the top of the bee dwelling. Food stocked up for the winter should not interfere with air exchange in the hive. Be sure to leave free space above the frames.
How to feed sugar syrup to bees in winter
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 prescribed time. In the second case, insects simply will not be able to properly process the feed. At temperatures below 10 ° C, the ability to produce invertase is sharply reduced.This will lead to a decrease in the immune defenses or death of the bees.
Composition of syrup for feeding bees for the winter
There are several options for the recipe for bee syrup 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 correct proportions of sugar syrup for the 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. To prepare sour dressing, you will need the following components:
- 6 liters of water;
- 14 g citric acid;
- 7 kg of granulated sugar.
Cooking process:
- The ingredients are mixed in an enamel pot and placed on the stove.
- After boiling, the fire is reduced to the minimum value.
- Within 3 hours the feed 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. To prepare it you need:
- 5 kg of sugar;
- 2 g invertase;
- 5 liters of water.
Cooking algorithm:
- The sugar base is cooked 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 feed with the addition of honey, the following components are used:
- 750 g of honey;
- 2.4 g of acetic acid crystals;
- 725 g sugar;
- 2 liters of water.
Recipe:
- The ingredients are mixed in a deep bowl.
- For 5 days, the dishes are removed to a room with a temperature of 35 ° C.
- During the entire period of settling, the syrup is stirred 3 times a day.
To increase the resistance of Hymenoptera to various diseases, cobalt chloride is added to the sugar syrup. It is sold in pharmacies in tablet form. For 2 liters of the finished solution, 2 cobalt tablets are required. The resulting feed is often used to increase the activity of young individuals.
Sometimes cow's milk is added to the syrup. The product makes it the most similar in composition to the usual food for bees. In this case, the following components are used:
- 800 ml of milk;
- 3.2 liters of water;
- 3 kg of sugar.
Top dressing recipe:
- The dressing is cooked according to the classical scheme, using 20% less water than usual.
- After the syrup has cooled down to a temperature of 45 ° C, milk is added.
- After mixing the components, the feed is fed to the bee family.
What syrup is better 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 the vitamin reserve;
- prevention of early uterine worming;
- prevention of diseases in the bee family;
- increased immunity before the first flight.
Throughout the entire wintering period, you can combine several types of food. But most often, beekeepers use a recipe that involves the addition of honey. It is considered the most beneficial for Hymenoptera. But it is not recommended to use honey made from the nectar of rapeseed, mustard, fruit or rape.
How much syrup to give bees for the winter
The concentration of syrup for bees for the winter depends on the season and the life cycle of the bee family. In winter, insects are fed in small portions - 30 g per day.
How to make bee syrup for the winter
During wintering, bees eat additional food instead of honey. In order not to be constantly distracted by the replenishment of the sugar solution, you should make a preparation in advance. The feed 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 feeding for 8 months.In cold years, up to 750 g of feeding will be required for one month.
Preparation of syrup for bees in winter should be carried out on water that does not have mineral impurities. It must be boiled and left for several hours. A pot made of non-oxidizing materials is used as a container for mixing and cooking ingredients.
How to properly lay the top dressing
To put the feed in the hive, use a special feeder. 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 feeding, they put solid food in the hive - in the form of candy or fudge. It is important to prevent bees from leaving the hive during restocking.
Feeding methods
There are several options for laying food in a bee hive. These include:
- plastic bags;
- honeycomb;
- feeders;
- glass jars.
For honeycomb-free wintering of bees on sugar syrup, glass jars are often used. The neck is tied with gauze, which ensures the dosage of the feed. The jar is turned over and placed in this position at the bottom of the hive. Laying food in combs is practiced only for feeding in the autumn. If the temperature is too low, the sugar solution will become too hard.
Feeding bees for the winter with sugar syrup in bags
The use of packaging bags as containers is the cheapest way to book feed. Their distinctive feature is the transmission of aromas, which allows the bees to detect food on their own. There is no need to pierce the bags, the bees will do it on their own.
The bags are filled with feed and tied on a strong knot. They are laid out on the upper frames. It is desirable to insulate the structure from above. Unfolding the feeding should be done carefully so as not to crush the Hymenoptera.
Observing the bees after feeding
Boiling syrup for bees for the winter is not the most difficult thing. It is necessary to carefully control the wintering process of 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;
- the ingestion of an extraneous odor into the feed that scares away bees;
- a large amount of brood in the combs;
- feeding too late;
- fermentation of the prepared syrup.
Winter examinations should be carried out at least once every 2-3 weeks. If the family is weakened, then the frequency of examinations is increased to 1 time per week. First, you should carefully listen to the hive. A low hum should come from within. To look inside, you need to carefully open the lid. You cannot open the hive in windy and frosty weather. It is advisable to choose the warmest day possible.
On examination, you need to fix the location of the ball and evaluate the behavior of the Hymenoptera. Top dressing in the form of honeycombs is placed flat in the hive. It is equally important to determine if there is excess moisture in the bee dwelling. Under the influence of subzero temperatures, it contributes to the freezing of the family.
If high-quality feeding is left for the winter, there is no need for frequent disturbance of the bee family. It is only necessary to periodically listen to the sounds emanating from the inside of the bee dwelling. Experienced beekeepers are able to determine by sound what condition their wards are in.
Conclusion
Feeding the bees for the winter with sugar syrup helps them to endure the winter without complications. The quality and quantity of feed is of great importance. The ratio of syrup for bees in winter is proportional to the size of the family.
