Roadkill, I see you're in NY. I'm not sure how your winters are in comparison to mine here in Michigan. At the moment our snow is gone as we've been getting a lot of rain, but that's generally not the rule. My concern for feed is this. I can see putting fondant on the top bars during winter for food and still be able to use a moisture quilt for dampness control. Now as for syrup, I was looking at the blue Ceracell Feeder from NZ. It looks pretty good, at least of what I've seen on YouTube. Although I'd think ones timing on using such a feeder would be critical since having the feeder in place would seem to void the benefit of the moisture quilt. So I'm wondering if syrup feeding isn't for late spring where the temps are high enough that one doesn't have to worry about the formation of condensation raining down on the bees?
our weather has been all over the board this year, from 0 degrees to 60 on and off through the winter, all I use is an inner cover and outside cover on top,I have an empty honey super just for the space of putting the fondant, no moisture control, I feed fondant in the winter as the sugar water will freeze .I use the inside frame feeders from mann lakes supply and have no moisture issues in the warmer weather..
Rick54, I put 1:1 sugar syrup on my hives this past week. I am in Kansas, so this may be a little early for you. 1:1 sugar syrup will simulate a nectar flow and encourage the queen to start ramping up her egg laying.
I open feed sugar syrup when it is warm in deep winter/ early spring, to help keep the moisture in the hives down, and because I don't want to break the bees seal on the hives putting syrup inside. I don't use Boardman feeders. Rather have robbers find the feed bucket than the hive front door. My bees can knock out half a gallon a day. Anything left over the possum seems to be dumping, so I'm not making a gallon today.
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