Hi all, I'm a new beekeeper(about five weeks now) out in Santa Cruz, Ca. I got a five frame nuc to get started and have been feeding them to get comb built up since then. They are taking syrup like crazy, 1-2 quarts daily( boardman and frame tray), and seem a little slow to build up the second deep I stacked on after about three weeks, though they are storing a lot of the syrup in the existing comb and what new comb they draw, limiting the brood laying space I wonder? I was in the hive yesterday and finally spotted eggs and larva in the top deep, so I am a little relieved that they are using the top as brood chamber now, relieving some of the cramped conditions. Overall, the hive seems to be doing very well- expanding the population and very active, though one week ago I spotted a swarm cell at the bottom of one of the frames in the top deep- it was gone during yesterdays inspection so either I missed a swarm or the got real happy and changed their minds. I stopped feeding them yesterday and was wondering if they will use up some of the stored syrup and make more brood laying space? I want them to keep drawing comb and expanding so I can do a split before too long (on advice from the nuc seller). Thanks for any advice on the feeding/dieting dance.
Feeding simulates a flow, so as long as "nectar" is coming in, they'll keep drawing comb in which they can store it. If the flow stops, they won't keep building comb, because they don't need the space. I would keep feeding until they have 80% of the second deep drawn, and then only feed if they're light on stores and you're not anticipating a real nectar flow soon.