In autumn, a new stage begins for the beekeeper, which is extremely responsible. Ahead is winter, which the experienced beekeeper will never deceive with low activity in the hives. This is a difficult and very insidious period. At this moment, without exaggeration, in the hands of man is the fate of the whole apiary. In order for all to one bee colony to be wintered safely, autumn feeding of bees is necessary.
Why is it needed?
Firstly, there may be one or several reasons why the bees were not able to provide themselves with sufficient amounts of feed for the winter. Feeding them replenishes. This is her main task.
Secondly, the main honey collection emptied the hive from honey, and its withdrawal must be compensated.
Thirdly, it is necessary to replace rapidly
crystallizing honey, and especially honeydew, which is often deadly for bees. In return, they should get enough high-quality honey (syrup).
Fourth, the autumn feeding of bees is an excellent occasion to arrange for them a "reception session" of therapeutic and prophylactic preparations.
The peculiarity of top dressing in the fall is that bees should get the most easily digestible product. They no longer have the time or the strength to do the same work as in the summer. And a person can help them with this.
So, how to cook for bees?
First of all, it is clear that it should be sugar syrup. And you need to make it in the best proportion, making it extremely easy to process. This proportion is achieved if 3 kg of sugar is taken on 2 liters of water. Get his 64 percent solution. Water should be soft so as not to accelerate the crystallization of the syrup. And sugar is only light, with no options.
Autumn feeding of bees is prepared in a clean bowl. Water boils, sugar is poured there, it is stirred until completely dissolved. The syrup should be brought almost to the boiling stage, then immediately removed from the heat so that the sugar does not burn out and does not hopelessly spoil the entire top dressing. And now - a little trick, because, unlike sugar syrup, flower honey has a characteristic acidic reaction. To imitate it, 70%
vinegar essence is added to the syrup (0.3 g per 1 kg of sugar). As soon as the prepared autumn top dressing of the bees cools down to about 30 degrees, it can be carried to the hives for distribution. The colder the syrup, the more reluctant the bees will take it.
Now let's talk about the very important - about the timing of top dressing. It should begin when the main bribe ends and the pumping of honey stops. This is august. In principle, in two weeks you can meet. But if this operation is delayed for some reason in individual bee colonies, you need to constantly remember: feeding of bees for the winter should be stopped before September 10. Why?
Processing syrup is the work of bees for wear and tear, and those individuals who do this will certainly not survive until spring. They should be replaced by young bees that have not yet been loaded, which have just been released into the light. If top dressing is delayed until September 10, they will, perforce, have to join in the processing of syrup. The entry of nectar into the nest will continue. The uterus will decide that there are bribes and will continue to lay eggs. Young bees will also die. They will be replaced by those who have left the brood too late: colds will come in which you cannot fly. In the absence of the first flyby, young bees will begin to suffer from diarrhea right in the hive, and this is a mortal threat to the entire bee colony.
See, what terrible consequences can be delayed by feeding the bees for the winter? Please do not allow this.