I put the bees in their hives last Thursday (first time ever). As per Beekeepers for Dummies instructions, I will not open the high for seven or eight days. I now need to check the hive top feeder to make sure there is enough sugar water there. I happen to have looked at the hives this morning about 6:30 a.m. and there was absolutely no activity (I'm pretty sure everything is okay as the bees were very busy yesterday afternoon - guessing it was too early to start working). The point is, I am wondering if opening the hive top very quickly (to replace the sugar water) early morning before the bees are out is a good idea. Temperature at 6:30 was approximately 55°. Does anybody have any problems with this?
Thanks, Jester
Jester, I want you to think about something here, it is important. When you open your colonies, you want to have a good many of them out foraging, that would mean opening the hive when there are less bees present. This makes it a little bit easier on the beekeeper than to have a hive full of bees, the less bees to deal with, the happier you will be, and you know what I mean. So, wait until many of the bees have gone out to forage. There may be circumstance when you must open the colony to feed when everyone is home. But if there is a choice, wait, less bees, less bees to bother you, hee, hee. Have a beautiful and most wonderful day, Cindi
If you are just opening the top to add feed - I don't see any harm in doing that in the early morning. IMO it isn't much different than adding feed in the fall/spring when all the bees are holed-up in the hive. You probaby won't get any bees coming out to greet you either.
not sure of what your setup is but when i use an inverted jar as a hive top feeder it is over the hole in the inner cover and i don't have to remove the inner cover to remove it and replace it. if you couldn't hear nothing and someone removed your roof gently you wouldn't even know as long as your ceiling remained.
There isn't much harm in a quick open, pull the bottle, fill the frame feeder, etc.
I find them to be a bit feistier when they are all there, and it is cool, not cold. So keeping that in mind, I would go ahead but make sure that you are suited up.
But if you can, you are better to wait a little bit. If they are flying, not only are there less bees, but the hive bees seem to be more occupied on their jobs at hand, such as curing nectar, baking bee bread, feeding the young'ns.It won't hurt them to run out of syrup for a day, especially not if they are foraging.
Rick