Volume 1 -------------------- December 30, 2010 --------------------Number 6
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The Value Of Candy boards For Overwintering Hives
by David Burns, EAS certified Master Beekeeper
The best source of winter feed for bees is their own stored honey and pollen. But sometimes a colony will go into winter lacking sufficient stored
resources. They may have enough to carry them through December and January but in February and March the queen is laying more and more
resources are required. I look at candy boards as winter insurance. They will not solve all winter problems, but a healthy hive needing a boast of
pollen and carbohydrate, candy boards are the answer. Therefore, now (December-January) is a great time to place candy boards on hives.
There are various mixtures and receipts for candy boards. Some are made with the candy soft and some with hard candy. The end result is still mostly
the same. The bees will consume the sugar as they need it. Beekeepers should be concerned about the amount of condensation that can develop above
the winter cluster. The bees produce heat within their hive and as the temperature is very cold outside the hive's condensation will develop on the warm side,
just above the bees on the inner cover or top cover. This condensation can accumulate and drop down onto the winter cluster of bees below. Bees can
stay warm in the winter but they must remain dry. If this cold water drips down onto the bees it can reduce their ability to keep their cluster warm. As
moisture develops with the use of the candy boards, the bees will use this moisture to help breakdown the hard sugar. Thus, a candy board can take care
of two winter stresses, the lack of food and excessive moisture. We embed a pollen patty under or inside the candy so that the pollen patty is preserved
until the bees need it.
The candy faces down just above the winter cluster. Normally, this means that the candy board would be placed on the brood box that contains the cluster.
For example, if you overwinter your bees in a single deep hive body, the candy board would be placed on this deep hive body with the candy facing down
toward the cluster. If you are using two deep hive bodies to overwinter, then the candy board would be placed on the top deep hive body. It is best to
disregard the use of an inner cover, and simply place your top cover over the candy board.
On average about 3 weeks. However, a colony that has ample stored honey may not consume the candy board as fast or not at all until they need it. A
colony close to starvation may consume a candy board within a week or two.
It is best to place the candy boards on a hive when the temperature is above freezing and try to place the candy board on and have the hive sealed back up
within 1-2 minutes. It should not take over 1 minute. Do not remove any frames in cold temperatures, only place your candy boards on and off quickly.
If you can choose the warmest day during the winter, that would be best. Try to avoid very cold, windy or rainy days.
Check your candy board every three weeks to see how fast the bees are consuming it. You can try to make your own candy boards if you do not wish
to purchase them from us.
Let me provide you with the recipe:
Start off with a good stainless steel pan, deep enough to hold several gallons of water. I find that a gas stove works best, one that has a power burner.
Pour in one pint of water in the pan (16 ounces). Once the water starts to boil, pour in 5 pounds of sugar. Bring that sugar to a temperature of 245 (f).
Turn off the heat and remove the pan and place on a cool surface that will not burn from the hot pan. Do not disturb the mixture until it reach nearly
180 (F) to 150 (F). Then, use a mixer to mix the contents in the pan. This will speed cool the mixture. Wait a minute or two and do it again and
then pour it immediately onto your candy board. If you have chosen to place a pollen patty on the board just lay it firmly on the board before
you pour your candy. The above recipe can turn out different depending on your elevation, amount of heat, type of sugar and type of pan. You
will probably have to tweak everything until it turns out how you like it.
The candy will appear hard, but we run a few drops as samples so we can test for stiffness. You will be suprised how easy it is to breakdown the
candy in your mouth.
Another slight change you can make, if you want your candy softer is to let your mix cool to 150 and keep mixing it with the mixer until it becomes
hard in your pan. Then, add 1 or 2 ounces of water in the pan and mix until it is liquid again. Then pour. This will make the mix more like the
consistency of fudge.
CAUTION: Making candy boards is very dangerous. Be careful of your fire, hot candy and other people, especially children around your hot
pans. Never leave them unattended. ALWAYS face pan handles toward the back of the stove not over the front edge, to prevent young
curious hands from pulling a pan over.
If you prefer to buy our candy boards as opposed to following our recipe and making your own, you can purchase candy boards now.
Below is a short video of one of our candy boards in action a year ago. If the video does not play on your computer or open in your Email
you can follow this link to our youtube video.
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IN THE NEWS...
In September the U.S. Attorney's Office In Chicago Put A Stop To Illegal Honey Coming In From China
11 Germans and Chinese executives and six companies were charged for avoiding nearly $80 million in honey tariffs and selling honey tainted with banned antibiotics.
It was the largest in a string of federal actions in the past two years directed at stopping illegal honey trade. Read more ...
EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Earns President's Call To Service Award For Teaching Beekeeping Around The World. Read more...
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