Comments on: Feeding a New Package of Bees

By: Sigirenda

Sigirenda — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 10:07:37 +0000

Trees do not needs bees simply for their own reproduction but maintenance and regeneration for the whole system with in which trees exist . The more species of fruits and seeds generating with in an ecosystem the greater its diversity and the richer its life carrying capacity. Trees and Bees represent a truly harmonious symbiosis .Rural people can generate income from this symbiosis while at the same time helping to safeguard natural habitats by sustainable use to bees resources .Trees / forests are known the world better are of priceless ecological values. they prevent soil erosion ,control flooding ,affecting rainfall ,store and recycle nutrients and provide habitants for vast number of plants and animals species . Keeping bees is one way of exploiting forest without destroying them .Beekeeping is therefore trees are central to the community forest activities. These trees are Essential for survival that beehives as well as the present colonies and herbal materials that aid hive colonization. Trees protect the colonies from extremes of temperature while flora diversity with in the forests provide a sound basis for sustainable beekeeping sector as agriculture . The bees pollinate the trees flowers helping to generate the resources the involvement of beekeepers in the community forest projects improves people participation and leads greater production of the resources . it is important to understand the muti purpose value of trees and forest if we are to have any hope of conserving existing forests or developing new tree planting activities , Beehive distributions to farmers , equipment materials and , Trainings and income from bees may be of the fastest way to bring profitability from more long term community tree planting project which will bring bee keeping sustainable.

By: DR ARNETT

DR ARNETT — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:38:55 +0000

don’t use store bought honey, don’t get from others? get from reliable source? where is this ”source”? no one else has bees up here [7000′ front range rockies] so, what DO i feed them??

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 21:53:22 +0000

How do I feed crystalized honey to the bees without the ants getting into it?

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 19:40:22 +0000

You have written about feeding but cannot find anything about feeding pollen and when it is good.
Thanks

By: Renee Still Day

Renee Still Day — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 16:15:20 +0000

Your newsletter has been so helpful. My neighbor who is retiring soon has been planning on raising bees/honey and bought his first package of bees, but got them later than he hoped….then he had medical issues and had to leave the bees in my care (VERY VERY NOVICE CARE) and you have helped keep them alive and thriving. Every time I needed an answer if he wasn’t available YOU WERE! Thank you so very much! And the bees who made it through their first winter in Colorado thank you too! It has been warmer than usual (but we also had some 20 degree below zero weather that you helped me protect them from) They’ve now started to come out and are hungry….your tips on feeding them until their natural food blooms has been a godsend! They are active happy and healthy!

By: sue

sue — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 21:08:49 +0000

In reply to NancyDawn.

dear nancy,
thank you for the explanation. I understand the article much better now.
you have been very helpful.

By: NancyDawn

NancyDawn — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:04:44 +0000

In reply to sue.

Thank you for your comment Sue.

AFB is the abbreviation for American Foul Brood. Here are a couple of links to give you more information.
https://www.countryrubes.com/images/American_Foulbrood_AFB_pdf.pdf
http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/disorders/bacterial.html

Timing is critical; when the spring flow/nectar flow (when the flowers are blooming and nectar and pollen sources are available) is in process, I have to keep an eye on the hives. When the bees start capping the honey cells, it indicates to me they are regarding this as surplus food. This tells me it is time to stop feeding.

If I continue feeding the sugar water to the package hive and they are bringing in other food sources, I run the risk of them putting the food in the cells that are intended for brood. If they fill all the cells in all their frames with honey, the queen has nowhere to lay and the colony could abscond from the hive. When I see the bees have started capping honey cells I know it is time to stop supplemental feeding, add the super or move them to a bigger hive, then let the girls do their thing.

I have experienced honey bound frames and hives, therefore, for me, timing is critical.

By: sue

sue — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 02:45:20 +0000

It seems as though this article is written for the new beekeeper. I am intending to start my own apiary next year and am not familiar with all terminology. When writing an article, please do not use abbreviations that may be unfamiliar to novices. Please also provide more information regarding the following, as you do not explain WHY or how.
“Timing is critical because I don’t want the bees to fill all their brood frames with sugar syrup/honey. This also helps me decide when to add my first honey super.”