Product Overview
HiveAlive Fondant Patty Winter Honey Bee Feed – 5 lb
More supplemental carbohydrate feed in one ready-to-use winter patty
HiveAlive Fondant Patty Winter Honey Bee Feed – 5 lb is a ready-to-use solid supplemental carbohydrate feed for honey bee colonies. The larger 5 lb format is particularly practical for full-size or stronger colonies when you want to provide more feed in one placement and have enough space above the bees to accommodate the patty.
No mixing is required. Keep the fondant in its wrapper during feeding, cut an access opening, and position the exposed fondant where the bees can readily reach it. The 5 lb designation describes the amount of feed in the patty; it does not indicate how many days or weeks the patty will last.
At a Glance
- Product: HiveAlive Fondant Patty Winter Honey Bee Feed – 5 lb
- SKU: WNTS-2356
- Brand: HiveAlive
- Nominal weight: 5 lb per patty
- Approximate dimensions: 8-1/2" L × 9" W × 1-1/8" thick
- Feed type: Ready-to-use solid supplemental carbohydrate feed
- Preparation: No mixing required
- Available quantity: Individual 5 lb patty or case of six 5 lb patties
- Primary use: Supplemental feeding during winter and other cold-weather periods
Why Choose the 5 lb HiveAlive Fondant Patty?
The main advantage of the 5 lb format is that it provides more supplemental carbohydrate feed per placement than smaller HiveAlive fondant patties.
At Lappe's Bee Supply, we consider three factors when helping customers choose a fondant size: colony size, the amount of supplemental feed desired per placement, and available space above the bees. The largest patty is not automatically the right choice.
Choose the 5 lb size when:
- You have a full-size or stronger colony.
- You want to provide more supplemental feed in one placement.
- Your hive configuration provides enough room for the patty.
Consider a smaller HiveAlive fondant patty when:
- Less supplemental feed is needed per placement.
- Available space above the bees is limited.
- You prefer making smaller feed additions at a time.
What Is Fondant Bee Feed?
Fondant is a solid carbohydrate feed that can provide honey bees with supplemental food when additional carbohydrates are needed. HiveAlive describes this fondant as containing HiveAlive liquid, vitamins, and amino acids.
This nutritional role matters when choosing feed. HiveAlive fondant is supplemental carbohydrate feed; it should not be treated as interchangeable with a pollen or protein supplement when supplemental protein is the objective.
HiveAlive Fondant Ingredients
Ingredients: According to HiveAlive, the fondant contains Sugar (sucrose), sugar syrup, dried seaweed meal (Fucaceae), water, thyme, lecithin, lemongrass oil, dextrose, hydrolyzed yeast (source of alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine), vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6, biotin, niacinamide, and D-panthenol.
GMO Information: HiveAlive states that it does not use GMO ingredients.
When to Use HiveAlive Fondant
HiveAlive fondant is especially useful for cold-weather supplemental feeding when liquid syrup feeding is less practical. Feeding decisions should be based on colony condition, remaining stores, consumption, accessibility, and weather rather than a single calendar date.
- Fall: May be used as supplemental feed while preparing colonies for colder weather.
- Winter: Provides solid supplemental carbohydrate feed during cold-weather periods.
- Late winter: Can provide additional accessible feed after colonies have consumed substantial stores.
- Early-spring cold periods: Remaining or additional fondant can provide supplemental feed when weather temporarily restricts foraging.
How to Place the 5 lb Fondant Patty
- Confirm clearance. Make sure there is enough space above the bees for the 5 lb patty before closing the hive.
- Leave the wrapper on. Do not completely unwrap the fondant. The remaining wrapper helps limit unnecessary drying.
- Cut an access opening. Cut an opening approximately 3 inches wide in the wrapper for bee access.
- Position the feed for access. Place the opening where the bees can readily reach the exposed fondant.
- Check the fit. Make sure the patty is stable and is not excessively compressed when the hive is closed.
- Add clearance when needed. A suitable shim/eke or super can be used when additional space is required.
Accessibility is especially important during cold weather. Having feed somewhere in the hive does not necessarily mean clustered bees can readily reach it.
Lappe's Bee Supply Apiary Note: Choose Fondant Size by Colony and Space
In our experience using the 5 lb HiveAlive fondant patty, its larger footprint makes placement worth checking carefully. We position the wrapper opening where the cluster can readily access the exposed fondant rather than assuming that simply placing the larger patty anywhere above the colony will provide practical access during cold weather.
What to Expect After Placement
There is no universal consumption rate for a 5 lb fondant patty. Colony size, existing stores, access to the feed, weather, seasonal conditions, and other colony circumstances can all affect consumption.
Monitor the amount remaining rather than assuming that 5 lb equals a predetermined feeding interval. If supplemental feed is still needed as the patty nears depletion, additional feed may be appropriate.
If bees show little or no consumption
Little or no consumption does not automatically indicate a problem with the fondant. The colony may still have adequate stored food, or the cluster may not have practical access to the exposed feed. Check accessibility and placement before assuming the patty itself is defective.
If consumption seems unusually rapid
Rapid consumption does not diagnose a specific colony problem by itself. Monitor how much feed remains and whether the colony continues to need supplemental carbohydrate feed.
If the patty changes firmness
Temperature can affect fondant consistency. A patty becoming firmer when cold or softer when warm does not by itself mean the product is poor quality. More concerning conditions include mold, visible contamination, abnormal deterioration, or excessive wetness associated with compromised packaging.
What Is Included and What You May Need
Included: The selected quantity of 5 lb HiveAlive Fondant Patties, with each patty supplied in its wrapper. Choose either one individual patty or a case of six.
You provide: A honey bee colony and a hive configuration suitable for placement of the patty.
Important Expectations
- A 5 lb patty provides 5 lb of feed; it does not provide a guaranteed number of feeding days or weeks.
- Consumption varies among colonies and conditions.
- The larger 5 lb size is not automatically the right choice for every colony.
- This is supplemental carbohydrate feed, not a substitute for a pollen/protein supplement when supplemental protein is needed.
- Supplemental feeding does not correct unrelated colony-health, management, or hive-condition problems.
- Monitor the colony's continuing feeding needs and the amount of fondant remaining.
Related HiveAlive Feed and Winter Beekeeping Resources
- HiveAlive 2.2 lb Fondant Patty — a smaller fondant option when less feed per placement or less hive clearance is preferred.
- HiveAlive Fondant Patties for Nucs & Small Bee Hives — smaller-size options for nucs, smaller colonies, or smaller feed additions.
- Winter Bee Feed & Feeding Supplies — browse fondant, feeding equipment, and other winter feeding supplies.
- Wintering Bees FAQ — learn more about winter stores, emergency feeding, moisture, insulation, and colony preparation.
Ordering, Storage and Feed Freshness
Before use, store HiveAlive fondant in a dark, dry place. HiveAlive recommends an optimum storage temperature of 50°F to 68°F (10–20°C).
Feed products have expiration dates, so inventory purchased well ahead of use may not have its complete original shelf life remaining. If you plan to store fondant substantially in advance of feeding, contact Lappe's Bee Supply to confirm the expiration date of current inventory before ordering.
Review Lappe's current Terms and Conditions for applicable ordering, returns, damage, and merchandise policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 5 lb HiveAlive Fondant Patty right for my colony?
The 5 lb HiveAlive Fondant Patty is particularly practical for full-size or stronger colonies when you want more supplemental carbohydrate feed in one placement and have adequate hive clearance. A smaller patty may be more practical for smaller feeding needs or limited space.
Will the 5 lb fondant patty fit in my hive?
The 5 lb HiveAlive Fondant Patty measures approximately 8-1/2" L × 9" W × 1-1/8" thick. Before ordering, compare these dimensions with the usable space where you plan to place the fondant, especially the available vertical clearance above the bees. Do not assume that hive size alone guarantees enough clearance, since available space depends on your hive configuration. If your existing setup does not provide sufficient room for the 1-1/8" thick patty, a suitable shim or super may be needed. If space is limited, consider a smaller HiveAlive fondant size.
Is HiveAlive fondant a carbohydrate feed or a protein supplement?
HiveAlive fondant is supplemental carbohydrate feed. It should not be treated as interchangeable with a pollen or protein supplement when supplemental protein is the objective.
Why choose the 5 lb patty instead of a smaller HiveAlive fondant patty?
The 5 lb format provides more supplemental carbohydrate feed per placement than smaller HiveAlive fondant patties. It is useful when that larger feed amount fits both the colony's needs and the available hive space.
How long will one 5 lb fondant patty last?
There is no universal feeding duration for a 5 lb patty. Consumption varies with colony size, existing stores, accessibility, weather, seasonal conditions, and other colony circumstances.
Should I remove the wrapper before feeding?
No. Keep the fondant in its wrapper and cut an approximately 3-inch access opening for the bees. The remaining wrapper helps limit unnecessary drying.
Does a firm fondant patty mean it has gone bad?
Not necessarily. Temperature can change the consistency of fondant, so firmness alone does not establish deterioration. Evaluate the overall condition and watch for mold, visible contamination, abnormal deterioration, or excessive wetness associated with compromised packaging.
What should I check if the bees are not consuming the fondant?
Start by checking whether the bees can reach the exposed fondant, whether the feed remains in usable condition, and how much feed is available. Little or no consumption can also occur when a colony still has adequate stored food.
Product Expiration Notice:
Feed products have a defined expiration date and may not have the full shelf life remaining at the time of purchase. If you plan to order feed in advance, we recommend contacting us before hand to confirm the expiration dates of our current inventory. Any product remaining after the expiration date is not eligible for refund or replacement.
