Feed Additives

Feed supplements are ready-made or beekeeper-prepared feeds given to a colony when natural nectar and pollen are not enough: sugar, syrup and fondant for energy; pollen substitute and pollen supplement for protein. This page treats these feeds as “materials”: what types there are, what to check on the label when choosing, how to store them and which mistakes harm the colony.

What is a feed supplement, and when is it needed?

A honey bee colony normally gets its energy from nectar and honey and its protein from pollen. A feed supplement is a complementary feed given in periods when these natural sources are not enough. Typical situations:

• Insufficient winter stores: If not enough honey is left in the hive after the harvest or in a dearth year.
• Risk of starvation at the end of winter: If the stores are about to run out and it is too cold to give syrup.
• Pollen dearth: If the queen has started laying but there is no pollen in the field.
• New colonies: Swarms, splits and package bees need plenty of energy to draw comb.

Feeding is a management decision, not a routine. A decision table on which feed to give in which situation is on the Feeding: Syrup, Fondant and Pollen page.

Energy supplements: sugar, syrup and fondant

White sugar (sucrose)

Refined white sugar is the most reliable and most common raw material for feeding bees. It makes no difference whether it comes from beet or cane; what matters is that it is refined, white and free of additives. Syrup is made up by weight: thin syrup (1 : 1) for spring and comb building, thick syrup (2 : 1) for winter stores in autumn. Its preparation is described on the Syrup Feeding page.

Ready-made syrups (invert, glucose–fructose)

Ready-made syrups sold as bee feed are usually invert sugar or glucose–fructose blends. There is no mixing to do, and they save labour in large operations. What to watch for when choosing:

• It must be made as bee feed: Some syrups intended for the food industry may contain sugars unsuitable for bees or starch residues.
• HMF level: HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural), which forms when sugar is heated and when it is stored in the heat for a long time, is harmful to bees. Ask the manufacturer for this value; do not use syrup that has sat for months in a hot store.
• Crystallisation: Some syrups crystallise in the cold or when kept for a long time; crystallised syrup can become unusable in the feeder.
• Shelf life: Opened containers can ferment; use them up quickly.

Fondant and sugar paste

Bee fondant is an almost water-free, solid sugar feed and an emergency energy source that the cluster can eat directly in cold weather. Ready-made fondants have a consistent texture and a long shelf life. For home-made fondant, additive-free icing sugar is preferred; icing sugars with added starch can contribute to digestive problems in winter. Details are on the Fondant Feeding page.

Protein supplements: pollen substitute and pollen supplement

Syrup and fondant provide only energy; protein is needed to raise brood. Protein supplements fall into two groups:

• Pollen substitute: A protein mix containing no real pollen (ingredients such as heat-treated soy flour and brewer's yeast, plus sugar). The risk of carrying disease is low, but bees do not eat it as eagerly as natural pollen, and its nutritional value is limited compared with pollen.
• Pollen supplement: A protein feed that contains real pollen. It is more attractive; but the source and hygiene of the pollen are very important.

Protein supplements are usually given as a soft patty (pollen patty), directly above the brood area. Details of preparing and giving them are on the Pollen Feeding page.

What should you check on the label when choosing a ready-made feed supplement?

1. Intended use: Is the product clearly made as bee feed?
2. Ingredient list: Are the types of sugar, protein sources and additives clearly stated? Be cautious with products containing lactose, starch or undisclosed “special additives”.
3. Protein content (in protein feeds): Is the amount of protein in the product stated?
4. Production and expiry dates: Prefer fresh products; HMF increases over time, especially in syrups.
5. Storage conditions: A product that must be stored in a cool, dry place should not have been kept in a hot warehouse.
6. Claims: Do not trust feed products that carry medicinal claims such as “prevents or cures disease”. For products with vitamins and “booster” additives, see the Nutritional Supplements and Vitamins page.

Comparison of feed supplements

How should feed supplements be stored?

• Sugar: In a dry, closed place that does not take up moisture; sugar that has clumped but is clean can be used.
• Ready-made syrup: In a cool place out of direct sunlight; an opened container is used up quickly. Syrup that has fermented, smells sour or froths is thrown away.
• Fondant: In its packaging, in a cool, dry place, protected from ants and mice.
• Pollen patties and pollen: In the refrigerator for a short time, in the deep freezer for longer. Mouldy protein feed must never be given.

Common mistakes

• Using brown sugar, molasses or grape molasses: Indigestible substances can cause dysentery, especially in winter.
• Boiling and caramelising the sugar: HMF, which is harmful to bees, is formed.
• Feeding while supers are on: The syrup is carried into the supers; the product is then not honey but adulteration.
• Giving more protein than needed: Uneaten patties dry out, go mouldy and attract pests.
• Feeding without checking the stores: Feed given without hefting or weighing the hive is either insufficient or wasted.