![]() ![]() For a great read, pick up Bumblebee Economics by Bernd Heinrich. The “pasture” for your bees is the total area that they can forage over (they are obviously not constrained by fences or property lines). My point? You’re not going to get strong colonies by just feeding ‘em sugar syrup!Īs long as I’m on the livestock analogy, let’s talk about pasture. He bought the right feed, and soon had a huge, healthy hog. After dumping hundreds of pounds of corn into that poor pig, he finally realized that it just wasn’t going to gain weight unless he gave it a higher protein diet. He just couldn’t bring himself to pay the extra buck for the formulated “hog grower” pellets that contained extra protein, vitamins, and minerals. I remember one old boy who came in each week to purchase sacks of rolled corn for his pig. You can provide livestock with energy by feeding cheap corn, but if you want them to grow, the ration needs to have enough protein, and that protein must consist of the proper balance of amino acids. Every feed sack lists protein content first, since that’s the main thing you’re paying for. It’s a bit more difficult to recognize protein deficiency in bees. ![]() However, with livestock it’s easy to see if individual animals are not growing well, or if their ribs are showing. Just as any rancher judiciously selects pasture for his stock, and supplements their diet with feed carefully chosen for its nutritional value, the beekeeper should do the same. The point that I’d like to make really clear to beekeepers is that you’re not managing white boxes–you’re managing the livestock within those boxes. As I detailed earlier, carbohydrates are stored as sugars in honey, and the reservoir for protein is largely in the form of vitellogenin carefully hoarded in nurse bees’ bodies. For much of the year in temperate climates, colonies must ruthlessly compete with one another for resources, and then conserve their hard-earned protein and carbohydrate stores for lean times. The life of the honeybee colony is not all humming springtime bliss, with flowers aplenty, and the carefree image that the public imagines. Now that we’re gaining an understanding of the role of vitellogenin in honeybee biology, how can we apply that knowledge to keep our bees healthier, to help them be more productive, and to improve the bottom line? *Please select the quantity you would like to purchase using the "Available Options" drop-box.Fat Bees- Part 2 Randy Oliver First Published in September 2007 Make sure the container will keep the feed dry. Store in a container that the bees can access. If you have extra patties left over you can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for future use. You will get less drying and make the mixture most available to bees in adverse weather conditions. When using patties, it is best to place them between hive bodies rather than on top. You can also use Honey B Healthy mixed with HFC or a Sugar Water mixture to increase the vitamins and essentials oils in the finished patty. Mix syrup in slowly to ensure you do not get a runny mixture. Let set overnight, cut and feed the next day. ![]() ![]() Pour mixture onto a sheet with a half inch rim covered with wax paper. Use about 1/2 gallon heavy sugar syrup or HFCS to 5lbs of substitute to make patties. Vita-Bee contains 42% protein, more than 12 essential amino acids, B-vitamins and minerals.ĭISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE 50LB BAGS, PLEASE CALL FOR INFORMATION. This is a complex formula which contains only pure, natural ingredients including the highest quality protein and sucrose and the most palatable Brewers Yeast available. This product is f ormulated for hobbyist and commercial beekeepers alike. Research by the University of Missouri shows a 25% increase in brood production in early Spring with the use of this product. ![]()
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