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Feeding Supplies <br /> Feed Pail a <br /> A feed pail is used to feed sugar syrup. Many kinds of feeders are available. For northern climates, at times of <br /> the year when it is not good for the bees to leave their cluster (early spring, late fall), we recommend a gravity <br /> feeder placed over the inner cover. It is simply an air-tight pail or other container(s) (e.g., a couple of large <br /> Mason jars) with 1/16" holes in the lid and a lip around the edge.A hive box without frames is often used to <br /> protect the feed pail on top of the colony (Figure 24). <br /> +s 1 •..,•�--n, �,1/4y� .4'''''' <br /> y-'' 4 om I <br /> �" eer. - i ,..r.k lr. ` r , _ <br /> `6',0 .!- y rr, - / P k - <br /> A . ., , ,: ::;0";**,'''''i4 - .,..:*.:, , <br /> ,..A.e.- '4.s'I'*:. ''''''''' 40 <br /> Figure 24.Two feeder pails on the inner cover of a colony(right)and another two feeder buckets enclosed by an empty box with the <br /> telescoping cover about to be placed over top(left).The buckets are placed over the hole of the inner cover to allow the bees to access <br /> the small holes in the lid that release the sugar syrup. <br /> Sugar Syrup <br /> Sugar syrup is used to feed colonies in spring when there is little or no nectar available for the bees to collect, <br /> and in fall for colonies that haven't stored enough food to survive winter. We recommend you purchase pre- <br /> made syrup from a supplier or buy granulated, refined white sugar and mix it with water to make your own <br /> syrup. Either beet sugar or cane sugar is fine. Avoid using organic sugar(even white): it is less processed and <br /> contains molasses, which is difficult for the bees to digest. Warm water will help dissolve the sugar completely <br /> so that the granules don't clog the feeder bucket. We suggest using water at temperatures below 140°F. <br /> Two recipes for sugar syrup are used depending on the time of year: <br /> • Light syrup (1:1 sugar:water) is used to stimulate the bees to grow in the spring and ensure the bees <br /> have ample resources to produce beeswax to make into comb. Light syrup is made by mixing 4 lb of <br /> sugar with enough water to make 1 gallon. The ratios are by weight. <br /> • Heavy syrup (2:1 sugar:water) may be needed to feed colonies in late summer and early fall to ensure <br /> the bees have sufficient honey stores for winter. You can make heavy syrup by mixing 8 pounds of <br /> sugar with enough water to make 1 gallon. The ratios are by weight. <br /> A close approximation of the amount of sugar needed can be made by filling a container half full of sugar for • <br /> light syrup (1:1) or filling the container full of sugar for heavy syrup (2:1).Add water to the container to bring the <br /> syrup solution to the top and you will have the approximate sugar to water ratios. <br /> Beekeeping in Northern Climates 24 <br />