I have about 15 hives all started this year. Some from nucs some from swarms caught and the last two are from splitting a hive into 4 nucs. All hives are being fed since they were all placed on foundation and bees need to draw the foundation.
5 hives are now working on second deep and others are getting close.
Went thru hives today and 3 or 4 of the hives seem to be backfilling the brood frames with sugar water / nectar and taking up space needed for queen to lay. They still have lots of foundation to draw. Bees are bringing in pollen so I assume there is some kind of flow going on.
As long as there is foundation to be drawn should I continue to feed?
They were bringing in pollen today and all hives have pollen stored but not a lot.
Should I be feeding a pollen patty while I am trying to build up the bee numbers?
Overall I am quite pleased with progress hives have made but there are always a couple of problems that crop up.
Having fun though, Johnny
you need to checkerboard your hive that are back filling read this, it will help you
http://www.knology.net/~k4vb/Walt%20updates%20after%2011%2005/NCB%20BC%20Sept%202006.pdf
here how to checkerboard
http://www.knology.net/~k4vb/ABJ%20Copies/ABJ%20June%201996.pdf
Johnny, the only question I can answer is that just because they are bringing in pollen does not mean that there is a flow of nectar, mine have gotten plenty of pollen from Bahia grass this summer, they can't get nectar from Bahia. Also a field bee usually consentrates on 1 thing at a time. Pollen, nectar, or water.
Bringing in pollen is not a sign of a honey flow. It is a sign that brood is being reared. They need this pollen to feed the open brood. Do not feed a pollen patty if they are already bringing in their own pollen.
I don't know how long you have been feeding, but personally I probably would stop for a while. If there is indeed a honey flow going on in your area, they will draw out the comb without the sugar syrup you are providing.
I would make sure the broodnest is not congested, by placing an empty frame between frames of brood.
Just to add, queenless, broodless hives will bring pollen in as well, bringing in pollen is just what bees will do, even if that hive is doomed.
I would lay off the feed as well as the pollen patties.
...JP
As we get into fall, hives will begin to back fill the brood nest and condense stores to get ready for winter. It's a normal process. Checkerboarding this time of year makes no sense. The honey flow is over.
Quote from: Ross on August 17, 2008, 11:49:11 AM
As we get into fall, hives will begin to back fill the brood nest and condense stores to get ready for winter. It's a normal process. Checkerboarding this time of year makes no sense. The honey flow is over.
you can do what Ross says , just watch for swarm cells, living in Ms you have a few months before fall hit's and a fall flow still to come. what I would do is move a few frames around (checkerboard) to open up brood space or add a few frames of drawn comb to the brood area if you have them (take some from other hives), your hive can still swarm this time of year, we just had a few swarms show up at the plant in the last few weeks so they are still swarming, its just if you still have drones this time of year, most here because of the drought have no drones.
The term checkerboarding has to do with nectar management for honey production. Opening up a honey bound brood nest is a different term.