Feeding Honeybees
Any bee keeper worth his salt or who knows his stuff will understand the importance of having a steady back up of food in reserve for when in the winter months if supplemental food is required or is particularly needed at other times. Though bees are naturally gifted at finding their own food sources, there are times when help is needed if natural food sources are low. Without proper feeding the bees are unable to sustain their young, their energy levels needed to work dwindle and their continued survival is severely compromised. Honeybees survive on a natural diet of honey and pollen. When nectar isn't readily available, bees will collect juice from insects that secrete honeydew (such as certain scale insects and aphids), as well as plants and overripe fruits. In the absence of pollen, they will also collect and store powder from other sources, such as plant spores and chalky animal feed. However, there are times when food is so scarce that honeybee farmers will take the on the task of feeding them themselves in order to keep their residents healthy and stable after all it is their passion when it comes to raising honeybees. Keepers who engage in this do so to ensure that colonies receive the right amount of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and other key nutrients needed to sustain them. It should be noted that, while there are numerous food substitutions used for feeding, none of them compares to the rich nutrition found in their natural food sources. Therefore, feeding honeybees such substitutes should only be reserved for short-term intervals when other sources are not largely available. A strong colony of honey bees requires around 35lb in weight of honey to sustain it through the winter months. Each honey frame in the hive holds about 3lb of honey so it is recommended that at the very least you have ten frames in each of your hives. Hives that need supplementing before late March are generally hard to manage. At certain times, feeding supplements that include heavy sugar syrup are not recommended, as this tends to add stress to the colony. Having to handle excess water and invert the sucrose is a problem for the bees. Also feeding them too much moisture can cause disease and goodness me we don’t want anymore bees dying out especially as we are coping with the dreaded CCD desease. At these times, drier supplements should be given. In anticipation of food shortages, savvy beekeepers will preserve honey during high seasons in order to supplement leaner times. Or, they may be able to help by feeding honeybees the combs of their other colonies that have a surplus. However, as a precaution, feeding honeybees the honey or pollen of a diseased colony is never advised. Beekeepers who take on the task of feeding should also never buy honey or pollen from other keepers to feed their own bees, as the quality of either may not be safe. Some of the replacements used in feeding honeybees include wheast (a dairy type of yeast found in cottage cheese), isomerized corn syrup, cane sugar, sugar candy and sugar syrup. Pollen patties are perhaps the best substitute; these are a mixture of fat free soya flour, brewers yeast and natural pollen. Along with supplementing food when raising honeybees it is also important to keep an adequate supply of fresh water available to the bees. Without a fresh water source being made available to them at all times, normal bee behaviour is likely to be affected. Saving a colony from starvation is important, but before feeding his colony, a keeper is advised to thoroughly research the supplemental food being given. Feeding honeybees certain pollen substitutes and carbohydrates can actually be toxic to the bees so please when raising honeybees be very careful to only buy these from a highly recommended supplier. A few Reasons why you would need to be feeding honeybees.
And will ensure that we always have the benefits of yummy honey. We can help a lot by growing flowers for bees in our own honey bee gardens which are a constant source of pleasure to sit in. Do you raise honeybees? If you do and you have any further tips to help those who wish to please write to me, we would love to read your comments and stories.
Return to Beekeeping from Feeding Honeybees Would you like to see some honey bee pictures?
Top of Page  Custom Search Back to Benefits of Honey Home Page
|
