Calculate the exact sugar and water needed to feed your hives for any season. Syrup ratios change by time of year — this calculator keeps it straight.
Use 1:1 sugar to water in spring and summer to stimulate brood rearing and maintain colonies during dearth. Switch to 2:1 in late summer and fall to help bees build winter stores quickly. Never feed syrup when temperatures are below 50°F — bees can't process it.
Use plain white granulated sugar only. Brown sugar, raw sugar, molasses, and artificial sweeteners contain compounds bees cannot digest and can cause dysentery. High fructose corn syrup is used commercially but is controversial for small-scale beekeepers.
A strong colony in spring buildup can consume 1–2 gallons of 1:1 syrup per week. During fall preparation, colonies may take 1–2 gallons of 2:1 per week until they stop accepting feed as temperatures drop.