I caught a swarm off a neighbors tree last July. I have been giving them sugar syrup all winter. I was given a 3 gal. bucket of really dark honey. Can I feed them with this, & if so how? Thanks for any help. Kaye

-- Kaye Reno (klreno@irtc.net), March 12, 2000

Answers

shouldn't be a problem feeding them the honey. Just give it to them the same way you feed sugerwater

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 12, 2000.

I asked the same question to a rep at Mann Lake - they don't reccommend it because the honey could carry disease (?) from other hives. If the honey was from the bees you're feeding, I don't think it'd be a problem. Good luck.

-- judi (jeddfd91789@aol.com), March 12, 2000.

This practice may encourage "robbing",in that your bees will find it easier to steal honey rather than collect nectar. Thats OK if you have one hive, but with more than one you risk having two or more hives competing and defending over one hive body and nothing will be accomplished. Hope this helps. Steve E.

-- Steven Erving (ervings@gwi.net), March 12, 2000.

I agree with Steven; I was taught to never feed honey because it could encourage robbing...it is better to feed sugar water.

-- Jim Roberts (jroberts1@cas.org), March 13, 2000.

Kaye, I have always heard to never feed honey to the bees, other than the honey that was taken from the hive. Some imported honeys contain traces of American Foulbrood. You run the risk of contaminating your hive. Tang, Alaskan beekeeper

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), March 24, 2001.