On 04/01/2013 14:19, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-01-04 12:28:49 +0000, Ophelia said:

"Spider" wrote in message
...
On 03/01/2013 23:24, Ophelia wrote:


wrote in message
...
On Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:41:51 +0000, The Original Jake
wrote:


I thought I saw a bee earlier today but it turned out to be a rather
overweight bluebottle. Still a bit early I think.

Had a Bumble bee flying around around on Wednesday,
Quite lively as well so I hope it was able to find some food somewhere
to replace the energy it was using.

Could you put out some sugar water or something to attract it? I know
nothing about it btw, just a thought.

Ooh yes! That sounds like a better idea
--

Actually, I wouldn't use honey. If it's in any way 'contaminated'
because it's foreign produce or mixed with foreign produce, or if it
comes from bees that may have some disease that doesn't affect humans,
'your' bee will get it. And all commercial honeys are treated A
sugar/water solution is safer and here's why:

"Sugar or honey feeding? Many consider that there are less solids in
sugar, therefore the bees have less feces to vent during cleansing
flights. You can feed honey waste etc. from the autumn extracting, but
you should not use heated honey in any form, otherwise dysentery is
almost guaranteed. The alternative thinking is that sugar has little
nutritional value, so honey is really the better winter feed if you are
willing leave it for them. You can make your own mix of sugar and honey
to produce a useful winter feed.
When the weather is reliably milder towards the end of March a liquid
feed and pollen substitute can be fed to give colonies a boost and
encourage queen activity.
You can make your own feeds without much fuss by using these easy to
follow recipes for winter feeds.
▪ Heavy Syrup Suitable liquid pre-winter feed
▪ Light Syrup Suitable liquid supplementary and swarm feed
▪ Candy Suitable solid feed for late winter / early spring
▪ Fondant Suitable for winter feed
▪ Sugar / Honey Mix Suitable for winter feed
http://www.edinburghbeekeepers.org.uk/winter_feeds.html

NB Where the above para says "you can feed honey waste from the autumn
extracting" they are, of course, talking of pure honey from the colony's
own hive so nothing it hasn't made itself!



That's really interesting, Sacha. I loved that link.
Well, perhaps feeding them honey is not such a good idea, but leaving
them with the fullness of their own supplies, is, to my mind. Your bees
may vary ;~).


--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay