High Fructose Corn Syrup - Mixing ratio

[barabo...@gmail.com]

Ok, now that I had bought a few gallons from the bee-supplier, you all have this foreboding doomage email string about the evils of HFCS. I plan to use it anyway.

Does anyone know the mixing ratio? The bee-people said for the equivalent of 1:1 sugar:water, to add a quart of water to a gallon of HFCS (4:1 hfcs:water). Seems like a pretty strong mixture.

Any thoughts?

[Marker Ramsey]

Well, actually I think the consensus was that the 'HFCS causes CCD' is 'fuzzy science' at best. Don't get me wrong..maybe HFCS is bad for bees but that study sure didn't prove it. Much success.

m

[jeanne hansen]

I don't think the mixing ratio of the syrup is very crucial.  The less the bees have to evaporate it down, the quicker they can eat it.  Hmmm.  Or if they ingest more dilute solutions, the less they have to respirate the excess water.  Hmmm.  It turns out I don't really know much about the feeding behavior of bees.  Still, since they thrive on everything from thin nectar to thick honey, I still think it isn't crucial.  Plus, no matter what the purists say, plenty of commercial beekeepers use plenty of HFCS.  

 

Good Luck!

Jeanne Hansen

824 Jacobson Ave

Madison, WI 53714

608-244-5094

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From: "barabo...@gmail.com" <barabo...@gmail.com>
To: mad...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 9:48 AM
Subject: [madbees] High Fructose Corn Syrup - Mixing ratio

[blu...@madtown.net]

Bees need a thinner syrup in the spring to build combs. 1:1 sugar
syrup is about right. I believe you heard right about thinning down
the HFCS. I have heard 20 to 30 percent water to HFCS to make the
syrup to the right consistency for spring feeding.
I would not worry about pesticides in corn syrup, but you generally
have to use a HFCS from the bee suppliers to get the correct type of
HFCS for bee feed.
Dale

[capitalbeesupply tds.net]

How much you dilute it depends on what type of HFCS you have., HFCS 42, 55 or 90. I suspect if you got it from your package bee supplier it is either 42 or 55. When I feed HFCS 55 I dilute it 15%-20% by volume for spring feeding (although I have on occasion only went 10% in the spring without any issues at all) and 10% for fall. But just like everything in beekeeping you'll get different opinions on what to do (e.g. some people feed 1:1 sugar syrup in the spring and some go with 1:2 or lighter; some dilute HFCS as little as 10% and some go to 30% for spring, some dilute the HFCS with 1:1 sugar syrup in the spring). If your supplier suggested cutting it by 25% then try it and see what the bees do. If there are any moisture problems in the hive adjust from there.

--

Rich Schneider

Capital Bee Supply, LLC

201 Acacia Ln

Madison, WI 53716-3233

608-444-1493

 

[John Moran]

Thanks everyone for the great answers. I did get the HFCS from Honey Glow Farm in Owen, Wi.

Cheers..J