BeeStrong® vs. BeeElixir®

As a beekeeper, ensuring the health and productivity of your hive is a top priority. One of the key factors influencing hive success is proper nutrition. While natural foraging is ideal, supplemental feeding when there is a lack or imbalance in natural resources, the health and performance of colonies can be affected. Two popular nutritional supplements are BeeStrong and BeeElixir—but which one is the right choice for your bees? 

Let’s explore their benefits, differences, and ideal applications to help you make an informed decision.

Understanding Bee Nutrition

Honeybees require a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates (nectar and honey), proteins (pollen), vitamins, minerals, and lipids. When natural resources are insufficient, supplements can help maintain colony strength and productivity. Both BeeStrong and BeeElixir aim to support bee health but cater to different needs.

BeeStrong: Boosting Immunity and Brood Health

BeeStrong is a protein supplementary feed designed to enhance immunity and overall colony strength, as well as brood health and development. The amino acid profile is similar to royal jelly and therefore easily digestible for the bees and the nutrients well absorbed in the bee’s digestive system. BeeStrong activates the nurse bee’s hypopharynx gland which ensures that the young brood is properly fed and brood health and development is improved. Furthermore the build up of the fat body is enhanced, which is essential for long living bees and the bee’s immune system. BeeStrong is particularly beneficial during times when pollen sources are limited, such as early spring or late summer.

Key Benefits:

• High-protein formula to support brood development and colony expansion

• Ideal amino acid profile for immune health

• Helps prevent protein deficiencies that can lead to weakened colonies

• Ideal for use before nectar flow periods to strengthen foraging bees

Best Use Cases:

• To produce vigorous, healthy winter bees after the summer harvest.

• During pollen dearth periods

• When raising new queens or boosting colony growth

• For recovering, weak or stressed colonies

BeeStrong: How it is used

For best use mix 25-50 ml (1-2 caps) in ½-1 litre of sugar syrup and place the mixture in a regular feeder. We recommend feeding BeeStrong one time in spring and one time after the last honey harvest to get best results. You can also repeat the feedings within a timespan of one to two weeks if you have a weaker colony that needs extra support or if you want to boost your breeding colonies for best results in queen breeding.

BeeElixir: Energy and Longevity Support

BeeElixir, on the other hand, is complete bee feed with added essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics for optimal bee nutrition. It has a honey-like sugar profile that provides energy and sustains bee activity, making it an excellent choice during nectar shortages or for winter feeding. BeeElixir supports the bees’ gut biome, fat body and immune system for long living bees to ensure a better overwintering and stronger bee colonies in spring.

Key Benefits:

• Rich in natural sugars for instant energy

• Contains micronutrients to support overall bee vitality

• Helps prevent starvation during harsh weather conditions

• Supports longevity and hive endurance
  

• Is beneficial to the intestinal microbiota 

Best Use Cases:

• For winter feeding 

• During nectar and pollen shortage 

• For nucs and swarms

BeeElixir: How it is used

BeeElixir is a ready bee feed and can be fed pure or mixed with water, depending on the desired effect on the bee colony. If you want to boost your bees to reactivate their wax glands and increase brood turnover after for example doing a biotechnical varroa control like a total brood removal or queen caging, we recommend mixing BeeElixir with water. If your only desire is to feed and nourish your bees you can feed BeeElixir pure. 

Which Supplement Should You Choose?

The choice between BeeStrong and BeeElixir depends on your hive’s specific needs:

• If your bees need protein for brood rearing and immune support, BeeStrong is the way to go.

• If your bees require food and nutrients to survive the winter or periods of nectar scarcity, BeeElixir is the better choice.

In some cases, a combination of both supplements may be ideal. For example, providing Bee Strong in early spring can help build colony strength, followed by BeeElixir in late summer to prepare for winter.

Final Thoughts

Supplemental feeding can be a valuable tool in hive management, but it’s essential to choose the right product based on your colony’s nutritional needs. By understanding the strengths of Bee Strong and BeeElixir, you can make informed decisions to ensure your bees remain healthy, productive, and resilient throughout the year.