I had a hive that got robbed out and the queen and a cluster of bees absconded. I offered them a nuc with drawn comb - it's a medium nuc from Brushy Mtn. - two boxes, 10 frames. I have been feeding them constantly since they entered the nuc. It's too small a colony to put in anything else and I plan to overwinter them in the nuc.
If they spend the winter in the nuc, I assume I'll need to feed them all winter. Even if they have filled the nuc with syrup, I don't think they'll have stores equivalent to what my larger hives have stored.
I have no idea how to judge the food situation for a nuc since I've never overwintered in on. Is feeding through the winter what I should do?
Linda T
Try to insulate them (with ventilation) and feed them fondant. Be sure to give them pollen patties in late winter so they can start building up; they probably don't have much in the way of pollen stores.
I tried this last year, and had too many issues with moisture. they were doing well with the fondant, though. Ventilation is key, cold isn't a problem.
Linda, considering where you live your big concern is going to be pollen for your new crop of overwintering bees.
Without pollen all the sugar in the world won't make a difference......that being said, a strong 5 frame nuc in your area should have no problem surviving the winter we do it all the time here in N.C.
Steve
They have winter in Georgia? I would guess you could feed all winter if you need to.
Oh, ha ha - well, we do have temps that are cold in Jan - March - cold by southern standards meaning that days aren't above 60 although I see the bees flying in 50 degree weather.
Do I need to feed pollen substitute to these bees without stores or is sugar syrup sufficient?
Linda T in Atlanta
As long as there is pollen coming in you might get by without any. If you have a long spell of warm enough weather to fly and no pollen, then I would think it would be helpful to feed them some pollen.