I took my daughter out to look at the bees this afternoon. She is learning fast. I wanted to find out how well the feeding has done. I usually don't use gloves of any kind but the 1st hive are MHs so they proved to be a little hot and I got stung 12 times before I decided I should get my gloves. Got stung once after that--through my shirt on my dunlap.
The MHs had 2 boxes full and drawn and had back filled most of the brood area--they will probably make it. I explained to my daughter why backfilling is desired in the fall so that the bees have maximum stores. The Italians were also backfilling the brood area--there is only 2-3 frames with some brood in them so the queen is already in winter mode.
1 of the Russians was full, having drawn and filled 4 frames in the last few weeks from feeding. The top medium deep nuc is all honey and the lower boxed looked pretty full also but there was a larger brood area than with either the MHs or Italians. I'm a little concerned about the 2nd Russian hive as it was a split at the same time as the other Russian but it is still drawing comb and still has 3 partial frames to complete and fill.
I think I may have to rob a frame from the Italians and then feed both hives in order to get all 4 hives to a place where I think they'll over winter.
It looks like you got it figured out pretty good Brian good luck
kirko
Brian, excellent, so all that hard work with feeding and tending has paid off, yeah!!!!! That is so cool that your daughter is excited about helping out her Dad with the interest on beekeeping. Yeah, have a wonderful day. Cindi