How To Make Candy Boards For Bee Hives

If you’re a beekeeper looking to keep your bees happy and healthy during the colder months, making bee candy boards is a perfect solution. These sweet treats provide essential nutrition and energy for your bees when natural sources are scarce. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps to create your own bee candy boards, ensuring your buzzing friends thrive all winter long!

Gather Your Materials

Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary materials on hand to create your bee candy boards. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients for Bee Candy

To whip up some delicious and nutritious bee candy, you’ll need the following ingredients:

5 pounds of granulated sugar
1 cup of water
1/4 teaspoon of vinegar
Optional: Flavoring (e.g., vanilla, anise) for added attraction

Instructions to Make Bee Candy Boards

Now that you have your ingredients, let’s get started! Follow these simple steps to create bee candy boards:

In a large pot, combine the sugar and water. Heat the mixture on medium until the sugar is fully dissolved, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Once the sugar has dissolved, add the vinegar. This will help prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
If you want to add flavor, now is the time. Just a dash of your chosen flavoring will do!
Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes. You’re looking for a slightly thick consistency.
Remove the pot from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly until you can handle it. Avoid letting it cool too much, or it will harden.
Pour the mixture onto your prepared boards (these can be made from thin wooden slats or plastic). Spread it out evenly, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
Let the candy boards sit at room temperature until they are completely set. This can take a few hours, so a little patience goes a long way!
Once set, place the candy boards in your bee hives to provide your bees with a much-needed food source.

Creating bee candy boards is not only a fun project but also a vital step in ensuring your bees have the nourishment they need to survive the winter. Happy beekeeping!