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> From: Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: WINTER FEEDING
> Date: Thursday, December 25, 1997 8:47 PM
>
> >  There was a time years long past when bag sugar was used here in
> > California. Those day's are only a remembrance for most. Having had the
> > experience of unloading a few car loads of bagged sugar and mixing and
> > feeding it to bees I can report without any reservations that there is
> > nothing better then liquid HFCS for bee feed...
>
> We're able to buy sucrose syrup by the tanker load from the refiner,
> just like HFCS.  It comes at 67% strength and is very suitable for feed
> right out of the tanker.
>
> Occasionally the delivered price of HFCS is below that of sucrose and in
> that case we use the HFCS in summer.  I personally like HFCS better than
> sucrose -- even if we do have to water it down on arrival so that it is
> thin enough to handle, since it is not so nasty (hard on the hands) to
> handle and does not scum over if left open to dry air.  I find the bees
> really like HFCS and do well.  However I've read that in tests it was
> slightly less attractive to the bees and also less 'hot' for stimulating
> buildup than sucrose syrup.
>
> I'm leary about HFCS for winter use since our bees are confined for long
> periods.  In caged bee tests cited by Currie,  longevity was reduced by
> about 1/3 -- as I recall -- and that would be enough to have our bees die
> just as the spring starts, since they are often confined for up to 5 or 6
> months.  In an area where other feed comes in to dilute it and the bees
> are able to fly more often, I doubt that this effect would be noticed, if
> it even exists in such conditions.
>
> More info about HFCS and inverts can be found in the logs.
>
> Allen
>
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