How I Mix Sugar Syrup for My Bees | 55 Gallon Barrel Feeding Setup | #colesfarmnc #jacksonvillenc

Early spring buildup starts long before nectar flows begin. In this video, I walk through the 55-gallon sugar syrup mixing barrel I use to prepare and feed my colonies a thin 1:1.3 sugar water mix to help stimulate queens to begin laying more brood ahead of spring. This system has made a huge difference in efficiency in the bee yard. Instead of mixing sugar syrup in multiple 5-gallon buckets, I can mix a full 55-gallon batch at once and quickly feed colonies when needed. The barrel itself is a fairly simple setup: • 55-gallon food-grade barrel • 1/2 HP submersible sump pump • 1.5” PVC circulation loop to continuously mix the syrup • Ball valve outlet leading to a hose spigot • 3/4” commercial hose connected to a 1” dispensing nozzle The circulating system keeps the sugar fully dissolved while allowing me to easily dispense syrup directly into feeders. Total cost for the entire build was around $250, which has already saved a significant amount of time compared to mixing syrup manually in buckets. For anyone running multiple colonies, a setup like this can make early-season feeding much faster and far more consistent. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Components Used VEVOR Submersible Sump Pump (1/2 HP) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ9RKPG2?... Gilmour Pro Commercial Hose (3/4”) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KL12RE?... Fill-Rite 1” Manual Nozzle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RXX82E?... ________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you enjoy following along with the bee yard and learning about practical beekeeping equipment and management, consider subscribing. 🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc