HiveAlive Fondant Patty
Solid carbohydrate feed for honeybees enriched with HiveAlive liquid, vitamins & amino acids. Perfect for late fall, overwinter, spring or emergency feeding especially when brood is present.
Need space to feed our fondant? You can use any shim/eke or super.
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Why use HiveAlive Fondant Patty?
Fondant is essential to prevent the starvation of bees over winter and early spring. By placing the fondant directly over the cluster they always have direct access to food.
Reasons they would need it are...
Stores too far away from the bee cluster: Their stores could be only a frame or two away but if too cold they can’t leave the cluster to access it and hence will starve.
Ran out of food: This can happen over winter but usually happens in spring when the bees are building up but there is no flow yet. They can very quickly run out of their stores leading to starvation and colony loss.
Cold snap in spring: The bees have built up and there has been a nectar flow but the weather gets cold again and the bees cannot fly and quickly use up any food they have collected and will very quickly starve if not fed.
HiveAlive and vitamins and amino acids in the fondant ensure better overwinter survival, improved gut health and optimal bee health.
Fondant can be used in queen rearing in queen cages, apideas, nucs etc.
You want all the benefits of a full dose of HiveAlive in each patty.
What is HiveAlive Fondant Patty?
Fondant is a solid, sugar-based food that provides bees with essential carbohydrates. Compared to syrup, fondant contains less moisture, eliminating the risk of drying out the feed and preventing excess moisture in the hive.
Watch Feeding Fondant to Bees Video
When to use HiveAlive Fondant Patty?
- It can be used as an autumn feed but is mainly used to top up over winter, when it is too cold to feed syrup, or in late winter when bees are running out of stores.
- Because it is placed directly over the cluster, the bees do not have to leave the cluster to access food, minimising the chance of starvation.
How to use HiveAlive Fondant Patty?
- Fondant is put on top of the colony, either under or over the inner cover, so no feeders are needed.
- To feed HiveAlive Fondant, keep fondant in plastic wrapper and cut a 3”(8 cm/approx size of the HiveAlive logo) hole in the front of the packet and place the opening over the hole in the crownboard or directly over brood frames. Repeat as needed.
Please note, removing the plastic covering will cause the fondant to dry out.
Fondant is easy to handle and store and doesn’t cause robbing like syrup can.
If you don't use up all your patties in the season you bought them, don’t worry!
If opened, wrap them up with saran wrap to make sure they don’t dry out and keep them until you need them. Make sure to use them before the expiry date printed on the pack.
Top tip: you can also add some water (50/50 by weight of fondant to water) and gently heat to make a light sugar syrup!
FAQ's
Can I use fondant in the spring instead of 1 to 1 syrup?
Yes you can feed the fondant instead of 1:1 syrup however, if it is warm enough to feed syrup, then syrup with HiveAlive added is the preferred method.
Should I freeze HiveAlive Fondant Patties?
Because the fondant has a 2 year shelf life, we do not recommend freezing them as they will still be in date for the following season. We do recommend storing in a cool, dry place.
How do I store HiveAlive Fondant Patties?
There is no need to refrigerate or freeze HiveAlive Fondant Patties. Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid prolonged high temperatures (over 85°F for a long period of time).
Can I use left over fondant to make a syrup?
Yes you can! You can add some water, 50/50 by weight of fondant to water, and gently heat to make a light sugar syrup.
"I and a few other beekeepers in my club started using hive alive fondant patties last fall and carried that through the winter and into this spring. I can’t believe how strong my colonies are right now and how much honey they still have in the hives. The others are reporting the same. Another beekeeper who has hives just about 100 yards away did not use hive alive and their colonies are weak. They are ordered a box of patties so we’ll see how the bees respond. Not a scientific study of course, but I really think it’s the hive alive. The bees love it. Thanks again."
PAT, USA
"First winter using HiveAlive fondant (WOW! ) it has proven itself to be true to what the science says."
Craig, USA
"We had half sugar cakes and half hive alive fondant on our top feeders. Our bees went for the hive alive more than the sugar cakes. Very easy to use and the bees basically stay under the package compared to the sugar cakes where they are on every surface when you open the top to check on them. All our hives have survived the winter/spring season and appear to be thriving. We will definitely continue to use this product and check out the others offered."