Fondant Feeding

Fondant is used as a supplemental feed for bees. The fondant should be cornstarch free with a low to regular ratio of corn syrup & not high fructose corn syrup. Corn syrup is used in fondant to keep it pliable. Fondant feeding is much more convenient than the candy or candy board method.

You should have 6 lbs. of fondant per hive. Fondant can be purchased in 50 lb. boxes & broken down into 1 pound sizes. A great idea is for a small group of beekeepers to go together to buy the 50 lb. boxes & split it up between them. One pound will fit into a quart ziploc bag & is fed just as a pollen patty would be fed. Fondant can be stored frozen for a long period of time.

If you’re making fondant at home, avoid marshmallow fondant recipes. Marshmallows are coated with corn starch & the starch disrupts the bees’ digestive systems. Powdered or confectioners sugar also contains corn starch. Use granulated cane sugar & light corn syrup.

Start feeding fondant when you remove the feeders; usually the first of November in our region. Feeding fondant earlier than that is not only a waste of money but the brood production will slow up or come to a halt. The hives need as much brood as possible to get through the winter.

The purpose of fondant supplement is to provide food for the bees so they will not eat their winter honey stores or hopefully it will stretch their stores out longer.