SPRING FEEDING WITH CANDY
Spring feeding is not essential unless you suspect a hive is running low on stores of honey.
Only give small amounts, say a piece 75 x 75 x 5mm, and wait for this to be eaten before adding more. These thin pieces can be placed on top of the brood frames in a central position where they are accessible to the bees in cool weather. The thin slices should fit in a bee space or use a small eke.
Candy is preferable to sugar syrup in the spring to avoid introducing water and a high humidity into the hive. Candy however will absorb moisture. In wet/cold weather candy on a hive can become wet or very wet. This may even begin dripping which could kill a small cluster; hence only a small amount recommended.
Candy feeding is usually started in Feb/March as the bees begin to become more active and can be continued with small amounts until the warmer weather and flowers of late April/May.
An alternative to candy is fondant which can be bought from beekeeping suppliers.
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