Candy for bees – what it is and how to prepare it

Beekeepers need to know what to feed them, the best time to feed them, and what to prepare. Candy is a popular bee food supplement. It promotes increased brood production and has a beneficial effect on productivity. But to get the most out of it, it's important to understand how to prepare and use it.

What is candy?

Candy is a special slurry, a source of carbohydrates for bees. The mixture is a pliable paste with sugar and honey. This food is primarily used during the winter, when primary food is scarce. This slurry can be fed to bees in the spring and fall to boost their vitality.

This feeding method is very simple; the candy is easy to prepare. Most importantly, the beekeeper can be confident in the quality of the feed, as they selected all the necessary ingredients themselves and followed the preparation process. Although some, to avoid the hassle of preparation, buy candy from specialty stores, you can also order it online.

Varieties of Kandy

Beekeepers have created numerous variations of this feed. However, the classic version has been and remains the most popular and is used most frequently. Classic candy feed is made with natural honey.

Some beekeepers are against this because it can result in the loss of a large number of bees. Honey can be of poor quality and contain pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause illness among bees. This problem is what prompts some people to use invert sugar for candy. Incidentally, it contains natural ingredients.

Sugar syrup may be added to the feed. Its quantity is limited. It makes bees overly active and increases their food consumption. There are specially approved candy preparation techniques. These techniques produce good results without harming the insects. It is also beneficial to add medications and bee pollen to the feed to prevent disease.

Sugar syrup can negatively impact bees, shortening their lifespan. The process of making honey from syrup exhausts the bees. That's why this supplement may be given as summer draws to a close, in early autumn, around September 12th, to relieve the bees before the onset of cold weather. In winter, when food is scarce, sugar is less effective, so candy can help.

Cooking recipes

Bee food is sold in specialized stores. It is produced in compliance with all standards and technologies. However, if you have a large number of bee colonies, it may be cheaper to prepare the food yourself. Key points for preparation:

• The dressing consists of four parts powdered sugar and one part honey.
• It's best to prepare the powder yourself to avoid introducing impurities. It's a good idea to sift the powder again through a sieve.
  Its composition must be homogeneous, otherwise larger parts risk crystallizing and then hardening.
• It's important to use high-quality honey. It comes from healthy bee colonies. Before adding it to the feed, it should be melted in a double boiler to achieve the correct consistency.
• When the honey has become sufficiently liquid, add it to the powdered sugar, stirring constantly. This should be done slowly. The result should be a homogeneous mixture.
• Check the finished dough by placing it on the table. If the dough doesn't spread, doesn't change shape, and, most importantly, doesn't stick to your hands, then everything was done correctly and the dough is ready.
• Form the resulting mixture into one-kilogram balls and place them in plastic bags. Next, carefully, so as not to disturb the bees, open the hive, place the candy over the cluster, and close the hive. First, poke small holes in the bag.

You can make fondantTo prepare it, you'll need a thick-walled enamel pot. Dissolve two kilograms of sugar in one liter of water. Heat the water to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) and then add the sugar. The syrup cooks for about 20 minutes; stirring is not necessary. The bottom of the pot should be heated evenly to prevent a skin from forming on the fudge.

You can check the product's readiness by dipping a spoon first into a container of syrup and then into cool water. A ball forming indicates the fudge is ready. Pour the syrup onto waxed paper. Make sure to add edges to the paper beforehand to prevent the syrup from spreading. Once the mixture has cooled, cut it into small squares. The finished product resembles amber slabs, 0.5 cm thick.

You can prepare candi using flourIt's recommended to use soy flour, as it contains more protein than wheat flour. The flour should be gradually diluted with water. Use one part flour for every three parts sugar. Stir constantly while cooking the syrup, and cook at a low temperature.

Recipe for making candy with honey, as well as powdered milk. For this, it's recommended to take three kilograms of honey, ten kilograms of powdered sugar, one kilogram of powdered milk, and a small amount of liquid (water). Allow the honey to melt, then gradually add it to the powdered milk, stirring. Next, add the water and powdered milk.

The mixture is kneaded into a dough, wrapped in cloth or cheesecloth, and refrigerated for 24 hours. The resulting product can then be fed to the bees.

Candy without honeyIf you know how to make candy with honey, you can also make candy without it. This recipe is used if you've run out of honey or if it doesn't meet quality standards. Both options are prepared in the same way. The honey is replaced with sugar syrup, to which powdered sugar is added, and then everything is mixed. The powdered sugar is added until the syrup begins to be absorbed. Other ingredients can be added to the mixture. This dressing is easy to prepare, but not as beneficial as honey.

This video explains how to properly prepare candy for bees, what ingredients to choose, and the benefits you can get from this product:

When to fertilize?

Springtime feeding is considered the most important. It affects future offspring and honey production. It is carried out after the first spring flight. Before this, it is advisable to ensure the queen is healthy. Feeding ends at the end of spring.

Some beekeepers supplement their bees in winter. This is done when food supplies are depleted. Sometimes, this is done deliberately to enrich the queens with nutrients. The key is to use high-quality candy prepared according to all the necessary procedures. Supplementing in winter is not recommended for several reasons:

• Bees begin to fly, which they are strictly forbidden to do in winter and autumn.
• The queen is laying eggs more actively.
• The syrup has to be reheated frequently because it hardens quickly.

How to give candy to bees?

Candy is given after the bait has been prepared. It's best to place the cake under the canvas. Beforehand, of course, a bag of candy is prepared. The bag is placed on a metal or plastic grate. This is necessary to prevent the candy from falling off. The candy is quickly placed in the hive. It's recommended to place plastic on top to increase humidity.

This attracts the bees to feed. The hive should be adequately ventilated, despite the well-insulated bee house. If food is scarce, the amount of supplementary feeding can be increased to two kilograms. This is usually sufficient for a long time; no additional feeding is necessary.

Everyone prepares candy differently; there's simply no perfect recipe. Knowing the basics is enough to successfully use candy feed. It has excellent properties. And its main purpose is to prevent the death of bee colonies. Candy is a simple and useful invention of beekeepers. This feed is quick and easy to prepare, and all the ingredients are readily available.

Frequently Asked Questions