Having tried to make some fondant for the bees I have managed to find a good method to make the perfect feed. No weighing necessary…
Ingredients:
5:1 (sugar : water) ratio
little acid (vinegar) catalyst which inverts the sugar.
method:
- Take 5 cups of sugar and mix with 1 cup full of water in a saucepan. To this add 1-2 teaspoons (grape) Vinegar and 1 teaspoon (optional) olive oil.
- Heat for approx. 30 mins. until a temperature of 117-119 degrees C. is reached. (Stirring occasionally) The lower temperature creates a softer mix – trial and error with your thermometer.
- Turn off the heat and leave to cool down to around 96 degrees C, without stirring
- Place the saucepan into a bowl of warm water and start stirring.
- The mixture will start to cloud over and thicken
- As soon as the mixture becomes a soft creamy paste I shovel this into a plastic ice cream container. Once cool, this mixture can also be kneaded.
Application:
Before giving this to the bees, loosen the mixture and place the up-turned container over the crown board’s clearer/feed hole so that the fondant settles on the crown board leaving no spaces. Try to make sure the bees are under the feed-hole. Turn the board if necessary. The fondant can also be kneaded to a flat patty which can be placed directly over the frames under the crown board however this will become hard if not consumed quickly.
Notes:
The recipe above can be made using less sugar e.g. 4:1 ratio however the heating time doubles, increasing to approx. 1 hour. I used a digital thermometer and compared it with a traditional jam making thermometer. There was a delayed offset between them and if the thermometer is not accurate will change the final outcome of your fondant. My past attempts always ended up making hard candy not fondant. I did some research on the internet and found a good formula used for cake decorating. Trials found the recipe above is great for feeding bees and can also be adapted for thymol patties.
Preparation of Oxalic Acid – For Varroa Treatment
November 17, 2014 by Herts Honey Bee Supplies UK
This treatment and the below mixture is 90+ effective at removing varroa mites from your honey bee colonies. However this should be applied during a period where there is no capped/sealed brood within the colony. This generally happens two times a year: During the process of requeening or swarming and secondly in the winter, typically December-January.
Mix:
Application:
This mixture should keep for a good 4-6 months in a cool and dark place. Once it starts becoming cloudy it should be disposed of and a fresh batch mixed up.
Health & Safety Caution:
It is recommended to always use the correct safety clothing and safety glasses are the most important.
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