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Date: | Sat, 8 Jun 1996 19:04:04 +0100 |
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<My mentor approved of my general "leave things alone" policy, but said
if I really wanted a good crop to feed some of the sugar early to get
the hives built up. This seemed extravagant to me, but I put feeders on
three hives, leaving the other three alone.
As you may guess, the cold weather followed, and now that the season's
on, the three hives that I didn't feed are going great, but the others
have only a few bees.>
Replying to the above, there are two completely different ways of spring
feeding and they should not be confused. If for lack of enough feed in
autumn or a long cold spring a stock is running low on stores then it must
be given a large quantity of strong syrup to top up. This has nothing to do
with so-called stimulative feeding when small quantities of weak syrup are
given at intervals, a kind of artificial nectar flow. It is considered by
many to encourage egg production for an early build up. Equally, many
think it has no effect and is a waste of time and money so you take your choice.
In the case quoted above, if it was carried out correctly, offering a small
amount at a time of one to one sugar and water, I cannot see it could do any
harm. If so I have been harming my bees for many years. I treat for nosema
in the spring and this acts as a carrier for Fumidil. Also bees need water
in early spring to dilute stores (a reason for a water supply in every
apiary) and this may help in cold weather.
It makes a nice little subject to argue over. I have seen reports of tests
carried out but as far as I know there is no strong evidence either way.
With only six hives it is quite possible that it was pure chance that those
three failed. Now if it had been a case of sixty hives and most of the
thirty fed failed we should have had a strong case.
Regards
Sid P.
_________________________________________________________________
Sid Pullinger Email : [log in to unmask]
36, Grange Rd Compuserve: [log in to unmask]
Alresford
Hants SO24 9HF
England
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