James Kilty wrote:. In

> addition we have so many beekeepers within flying distance I would be
> feeding my neighbours' bees. I lose - they lose (sugar in their honey):
> not a good position to be in.

As part of the beekeeping course we convene, I teach the students a subject
called special management.

Within this subject I cover the topics feeding and robbing.

Feeding may be done primarily for three reasons:

supplementary: whenever there is a dearth (current, perhaps, but preferably
when anticipated)
manipulative: whenever splitting, joining, queen breeding, pollination, etc.
stimulative: we know it takes (Cape bees) 40 days from eggs to flying foragers,
therefore we feed that amount of time BEFORE the anticipated event of honey
flow, pollination or other manipulation.

Feed mixes will differ between these various requirements: Stimulation and
manipulation require thin solutions, while supplementary needs as thick as
possible mixes. Additives may be used as per specific needs and include honey,
molasses, amino acids, etc.

Feeding may be done in various ways:

In the hive (top hive, bags, bottles, etc.) - safest
at the entrance (Boardman) - often induces robbing
open (feeding at LEAST 150m away) with the resulting potential loss to other
colonies - stronger colonies get stronger, weaker ones weaker and or die out.

Feeding sugar for stimulation should never be done to the extent that sugar is
available for storage - especially before a flow.

Regards

Robert Post
South Africa