Autumn feeding of bees: quickly, efficiently, just in time

In autumn, a new stage for the beekeeper comes, extremely responsible. Winter is ahead, which an experienced beekeeper will never deceive by small activity in the hives. This is a very difficult and very insidious period. At this moment, without exaggeration, in the hands of man the fate of the whole apiary. In order to safely winter all of them to one bee-family, an autumn feeding of bees is necessary.

Why is it needed?

First, there may be one or several reasons why bees have not been able to provide enough supplies for themselves in the winter. Top-dressing replenishes them. This is its main task.

Secondly, the main honey collection devastated the hive from honey, and its withdrawal must be compensated.

Thirdly, it is necessary to replace quickly crystallized honey, and especially padeevy, which is often deadly for bees. In return, they should get enough quality honey (syrup).

Fourthly, the autumn feeding of bees is an excellent occasion to arrange for them a "receiving session" of therapeutic and prophylactic drugs.

The peculiarity of feeding in autumn is that bees should get the most easily digestible product. They do not have the time or energy to do the same job as they did in the summer. And a person can help them in this.

So, how to prepare a feeding for bees?
First of all, it is clear that this should be sugar syrup. And it needs to be done in the best proportion, which greatly facilitates the processing. This proportion is achieved if you take 3 kg of sugar per 2 liters of water. Get its 64 percent solution. The water should be soft, so as not to accelerate the crystallization of the syrup. And sugar - only light, without options.

Autumn feeding of bees is prepared in clean dishes. The water boils, sugar is poured into it, it is stirred until it dissolves completely. The syrup should be brought almost to the boiling point, then immediately removed from the fire, so that sugar is not burned and did not ruin all the top-dressing hopelessly. And now - a little cunning, because, in contrast to sugar syrup, the flower honey has a characteristic acidic reaction. To simulate it, 70% acetic essence is added to the syrup (per 0.3 kg of sugar). Once the cooked autumn feeding of the bees has cooled down to about 30 degrees, it can be carried to the hive for distribution. The colder the syrup, the more reluctant the bees will take it.

Now let's talk about a very important - about the timing of fertilizing. It should begin when the main bribery ends and the pumping of honey stops. This is August. In principle, in two weeks you can meet. But if this operation in individual bee colonies is delayed for some reason, one must always remember: the feeding of bees for winter should be stopped until September 10. Why?

Processing syrup - the work of bees for wear, and those individuals who are engaged in this, until the spring just will not live. They should be replaced as yet not loaded young bees, just released "into the light." If the feeding is delayed until September 10, they will have to join in the processing of the syrup, willy-nilly. The flow of nectar into the nest will continue. Uterus decides that there are bribes, and will continue to lay eggs. And young bees will perish. They will be replaced by those that have left the brood too late: there will come a cold, in which you do not fly. In the absence of the first flight, young bees will begin to suffer diarrhea directly into the hive, and this is a deadly threat to the entire bee colony.

You see, what terrible consequences can lead to a delay in the feeding of bees for the winter? Please do not allow this.