![\"](\"https:\/\/sweetmountainfarm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/HiveWinterFeeder.jpg\" "\\"Winter")
<\/h3>\nAt Sweet Mountain Farm a winter Bee feeder is used on first year splits or when honey reserves are low. A strong and healthy colony should not need to be\u00a0supplemented\u00a0by winter feeding. Colonies in the north need at least 60 lbs. of honey going into winter. That is equal to 12 – medium full frames of capped honey or approximately 10 deep frames.<\/p>\n
It seems counter-intuitive that prolonged warmer temperature rather than colder temperature indicates a hive may need additional resources. When temperatures reach 40 degrees a colony will break cluster and begin to consume more food. A winter season with unusually warm temperatures will be more stressful for the bees than consistently colder temperatures. The bees will break cluster, take cleansing flights and require more food to expend energy during warmer winters.<\/p>\n
Resources become\u00a0depleted\u00a0in the spring and therefore colonies most often starve out before nectar and pollen are available. \u00a0If the population of a hive is high going into winter and and the temperatures are above average, this is the time to place a winter bee feeder on the hive.<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n1x4x8 lumber is used to make a frame that is 14″\u00a0x 20″. Use \u00bc\u201d hardware cloth. Drill \u00be\u201d ventilation hole into the face of the frame. Position the hole just under the telescoping cover so that the outer cover will close the hole if needed. Shape the hardware cloth into the frame and staple it to the frame.\u00a0The frame will hold up to 15 pounds of fondant although 5 pounds is sufficient.<\/p>\n
Fondant Recipe<\/strong><\/p>\n The basic fondant recipe is 1 pint water to 5 lbs. sugar. Boil water and sugar to soft ball stage which is 242 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the mesh hardware with newspaper or wax paper and pour the hot syrup onto the paper. Once set, it is placed on the hive as a top feeder. Dry bee pollen can be scattered on the top of the fondant. Place the hive at the Winter Solstice when daylight time begins to increase.<\/p>\n Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n Watch the syrup carefully. At approximately 210 degrees the liquid starts to boil and the temperature climbs fast. Do not feed your bees fondant that has been over cooked. The liquid will turn slightly brown and the bees cannot digest the over processed fondant. Discard it and start over.<\/p>\n If you do not have a candy thermometer you can use the ice water method. Drop a teaspoon of boiling liquid into the ice water. If a small ball can be formed with the liquid the mixture is ready to pour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Winter Bee Feeder At Sweet Mountain Farm a winter Bee feeder is used on first year splits or when honey reserves are low. A strong and healthy colony should not need to be\u00a0supplemented\u00a0by winter feeding. Colonies in the north need at least 60 lbs. of honey going into winter. That is equal to 12 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":35,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-140","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n