sugar water

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drewgrim
Guard bee
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:26 pm

sugar water

Post by drewgrim »

what does it mean if a hive isnt drinking sugar water? i have had about a gallon on a hive for 2 weeks and i would day that they have maybe drunk about 1/4 of it if that. its a small one hive body hive.
Wally
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Posts: 1838
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:35 pm
Location: Randleman

Re: sugar water

Post by Wally »

It means here is a flow going on. They prefer nectar. Put the sugar away.
drewgrim
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Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:26 pm

Re: sugar water

Post by drewgrim »

thats what i was thinking. thanks!
mike91553
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Location: NW Alamance Co

Re: sugar water

Post by mike91553 »

Or maybe it has soured. We have had a few hot days.

There is a good flow as well in certain locations. I know of a hive that has filled a super and begun capping it.
Jacobs
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Location: Greensboro, NC

Re: sugar water

Post by Jacobs »

My puzzle is a late season one that I plan on solving later today. I have kept a couple of quart jars of sugar water about 50 feet behind my hives for a couple of weeks. This morning when it was 42 degrees a few bees met me as I put out full jars. Only 1 hive was flying at that time and temperature. They have had good stores, but I am going to check again this afternoon when the temperature is above 60 degrees. I want to see if the most enthusiastic hive for sugar water is the one most in need of stores or if they just like cooler weather.
Jacobs
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Location: Greensboro, NC

Re: sugar water

Post by Jacobs »

I've kept the jars of sugar water going and several of my hives will go to it if it is 42 degrees or warmer and sunny. The hive I was looking at in October had good stores. My hives get full sun for several hours even on December 21st, and seem to stay active going to the sugar water. The 8 hives and a nuc may or may not empty 2 quart jars depending on how early in the day it hits 42. At this point, the feeding is more for my pleasure at seeing the bees fly and less for winter supplies (I hope).
ski
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Posts: 1018
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:40 am
Location: Whitsett, NC

Re: sugar water

Post by ski »

Rob,
It was not clear to me if you were able to answer your queston.
"I want to see if the most enthusiastic hive for sugar water is the one most in need of stores or if they just like cooler weather."
Just some thoughts.
Jacobs
Guard bee
Posts: 1887
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:36 pm
Location: Greensboro, NC

Re: sugar water

Post by Jacobs »

The hive I was concerned about had good stores. They were just more enthusiastic than the other hives.
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