Spring Feeding
Spring Feeding: Preparing Your Bees for a Productive Season
Spring is a season of renewal, not just for gardens and forests but also for your bee colonies. As flowers bloom and temperatures rise, bees emerge from their winter cluster to begin foraging and building their hive strength. Proper spring feeding during this critical time can ensure your hives thrive and are prepared for the season’s nectar flow.
Why Spring Feeding is Important
Spring feeding is essential to help your bees recover from winter and prepare for the busy months ahead. In Tasmania, where spring weather can be unpredictable, early feeding ensures your bees are ready to take full advantage of the blooming season. Key benefits include:
Boosting Colony Growth: Stimulates brood production, increasing the number of active foraging bees.
Preventing Starvation: Provides essential food reserves when natural forage is still limited.
Supporting New Colonies: Helps nucleus colonies or newly installed packages establish quickly.
What to Feed Bees in Spring
Providing the right type of feed ensures your bees receive the necessary energy and nutrients. Here are the main options:
1. Sugar Syrup
Purpose: Supplies an energy source for bees to forage and care for brood.
Ratio: A 1:1 ratio of white sugar to water mimics nectar.
Preparation:
Heat water gently without boiling.
Stir in sugar until fully dissolved.
Cool the syrup before feeding.
2. Pollen Patties
Purpose: Provides protein for brood rearing.
Ingredients: Combine pollen or pollen substitute with sugar syrup to form a paste.
Application: Place the patty directly above the brood frames.
3. Fresh Water
Purpose: Essential for diluting stored honey and syrup and maintaining hive humidity.
Placement: Use a shallow dish with floating materials like cork or sticks to prevent drowning.
How to Feed Your Bees
Internal Feeders
Located inside the hive to protect feed from robbers and weather.
Frame or division board feeders work well for Langstroth hives.
Top Feeders
Placed above the brood box under the lid.
Convenient for refilling without disturbing the colony.
Entrance Feeders
Attached at the hive entrance for easy access.
Monitor carefully to prevent robbing by other bees.
Signs Your Bees Need Feeding
Look for these indicators to determine if supplemental feeding is necessary:
Low activity in and around the hive.
Minimal stored honey visible in frames.
Bees clustering near the hive entrance or feed source.
Regular hive checks will help you gauge food reserves and overall colony health.
Tips for Spring Feeding Success in Tasmania
Be Weather-Wise:
Tasmania’s spring often features fluctuating temperatures. Keep syrup feeders warm to prevent the syrup from chilling your bees.Avoid Overfeeding:
Too much feeding can result in syrup-filled combs, leaving limited space for brood.Respect Biosecurity:
Never use honey from unknown sources to avoid spreading diseases such as American foulbrood.Encourage Foraging:
Gradually reduce feeding as natural nectar and pollen become available to encourage bees to gather forage.
The Payoff of Spring Feeding
By providing supplemental feeding in spring, you ensure your colony is robust and ready to make the most of Tasmania’s rich spring and summer blooms. A well-fed hive leads to healthy bees, productive pollination, and a bountiful honey harvest.
Set your bees up for success this season—happy beekeeping! 🐝
