Tub with fondant sitting on crown board.
This blog takes the reader through using Ambrosia fondant as a winter feed. The blog briefly looks at ventilation with matchsticks.
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- 1. The weather has started to get cold. I have stopped feeding the bees syrup because as the weather is cold their access to water will be diminished and syrup would be hard for them to digest. I am using fondant to feed the bees, its brand name is ‘Ambrosia’. This is a type of sugar substance which is like a hard gel. Bee can digest this without too much need for water.
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- 2. A tub or casket from Chinese fast-food (takeaway) is used to hold the fondant.
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- 3. The fondant package is made from think plastic and needs opening with scissors.
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- 4. I cut a rectangle in the packaging so I can cut the fondant to size.
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- 5. The tub is used as template to cut fondant.
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- 6. A large knife is used to slice the fondant to the dimensions of the tub.
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- 7. The fondant pressed into the tub. It sticks to the bottom of the tub.
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- 8. The tub with the fondant inside it can be turned upside-down.
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- 9. The fondant placed in a plastic bag to keep it clean.
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- 10. Tub with fondant sits on crown board and there is bee space between the tub and the fondant.
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- 11. Tub with fondant sitting on crown board.
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- 12. Matchsticks have been placed on eke to lift crown board. This gives ventilation. Condensation is more of a threat to bees over the winter than the cold.
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- 13. Matchsticks between eke and crown board.
I’m on the verge of taking the plunge and getting myself a hive of bees. You work so hard at yours. Living in Sydney we don’t have to worry about winter, our bees can fly out and collect all year round. And we don’t have veroa mites (yet). I read your posts to learn and to breathe a sigh of relief at how easy I’ve got it. I have a lot to learn though so I’ll keep reading – please keep posting.
Thank-you. I would recommend that you join a local beekeeper’s association, so you get hands on experience and have a network for advice before you begin in earnest.
do you think its possible to keep bees in a small garden? also with kids around? we have bees in our garden that are lovely and I’d love to have a go but wondered if it is too risky? would be great to know what you think.
Yes, so long as everyone knows there is bees in the garden. So long as the bee hive has its own corner of the garden, which is farthest from the neighbours house.
thanks thats good advice.
Hi, we keep our bees in our family garden and have sited the hives within the chicken run so that there is a net fence between the lawn and the hives. This stops children getting too close by accident…
Within a metre or so they have flown out and above head height… Go for it!!
http://www.HenCorner.com
Sweets for bees…Lucky bees!