Hello ~
I did a hive check today & saw the queen on the 2nd frame in the second brood box. Everything looks good & almost all the frames are drawn out so I added a queen excluder & super. I'm concerned that it's been cool & overcast...do you think I should keep feeding? The dandelions are blooming as are other perennials. Plenty of brood & drone cells & no sign of queen caps or "peanuts". Everything looks pretty healthy.
I've been feeding both of my hives since April 16th but this last week I didn't put the feeder back on as I feel like there's enough for them to gather. Is this a mistake? Should I keep feeding or should I expect them to start foraging (more than they have been) & filling the honey super?
It's been such a cold spring & summer ~ I'm a little confused in the north??? Anyone else out there in the northern pacific, Canada or Alaska who has some help for a newbee?
Thanks for any input & ideas ~ FG
I overwinter in 2 deeps, so I feed new colonies until they have drawn out the comb on both deeps. Once the supers go on, I stop feeding.
FG I would keep feeding. The spring has been so cold & wet here in WA I almost lost my hives to starvation as did Brian & Sean when we didn't feed. It won't hurt, if they don't need it they won't use it. Better to waste a little sugar now than weaken your hive so they can't get enough stores for winter..Just my thoughts! Jody
How much stores did they have when you inspected? That is the best way to decide. If you put on supers, I wouldn't be feeding. I know my honey customers wouldn't appreciate it.
If you're going to keep feeding, you need to devote the supers to the bees, not a harvest. Sugar syrup is not honey. If you think they're booming sufficiently to need a super, you don't need to feed.
Take a look in your brood boxes and see how much space is devoted to nectar/syrup. If there's a lot (and you can tell if your top deep is *heavy*), don't feed and see what they do. If there's no flow, they're going to ignore the super and consume their stores.
I've heard two things about feeding new hives; As long as there is comb to be drawn out, feed. And, Feed new hives until September!
I personally thought I would feed only 5 weeks, but the weather has been cool and there is still foundation to be drawn out so I have continued. My hives consume about a quart a day, each.
OK ~ you've all given me lots to think about.
Let's see ~ they have some stored food on the top of every frame but most of the second box is brood. Lots of it! It's very heavy! That's probably why I saw the queen (big pink dot) on the second frame in because she was laying eggs. The frames on each end of the box had nectar/ water on both sides. All the frames are drawn out.
It's been so cold & our weather has been similar to Jody's ~ Wet, cold & overcast. All this discussion is making me think I should keep feeding them & remove the queen excluder. (?) Does that sound reasonable? I'm worried that the queen will lay eggs in the super but I guess that's ok (?)...I can always add the excluder later & add a second super on top for me? I don't have anymore deeps because I'm just using two on each hive for brood & then the supers (mediums).
I'm trying to think about what's blooming~ lilacs, poppies, shooting stars, may day trees, dandeloins, etc. Some of these (lilacs) I know they don't really care for. It really doesn't seem like there much happening in the garden :(
If I check them tomorrow & they've already moved into the super should I let it go?? I'm confusing myself :) I'll do a fly-bye tomorrow & give you an update. Myabe that'll help me decide. Thanks for all the advice!
Check with some of the beeks in your area. I have no idea how much you guys need up there to over winter. But if you don't have it here is a link http://www.alaskabees.com/ for you that may help. I talk to members of our clubs and find who is successfully overwintering, what their losses were from, has great production and long living hives. Then I take info from all that volunteered it and make up my own mind for what works for me and learn from that.
OK ~ Thanks & good idea to check with the local beeks. I'm sort of a lurker & independent sort so I haven't checked with them. I get all the emails /posts from the site but it's not very active. Alaska is the size of 3 western states (yes, we're bigger than Texas) so we have a lot of different weather.
Anyway.... We had a beautiful sunny day today & all the bees were out in force. I did check the hive in question & they have moved up & started to draw out the starter strips so I think I'm good!!
I really, really appreciate all the wonderful, kind & thoughtful suggestions. You guys & gals are the best! You're all on my neighborhood list for honey! :) FG