been feeding 2:1 for a few weeks. starting to get into the mid 40's to low 50's during the night but have not had a hard frost yet. when should I stop feeding? did I start too early?
thanks bob
I quit yesterday. The two 8 frame deep boxes are full of stores and brood.
I will be interested in the replies you get. My understanding is you try to get the feed on fast and early enough that some warm weather remains for the hive to cure and cap the stores.
For what it is worth. Here in Northern VT lots of folks start around mid september (end of goldenrod) and try to be done by now/early october....or at least that is what I have heard/read.
well I made up a new batch yesterday so I will feed them that and then quit. thanks
until you get enough stores for your climate or they quit taking it
When to stop feeding? I haven't started yet :-D
My foam hives are like little ovens out there when I pop the tops. It is amazing how warm the bees end up heating the hives. I'll probably start feeding the 1st or 2nd week of October. Don't want any swarms at this point.
I have similar climate here and have already finished feeding.
My bees are also in quite well insulated polystyrene hives with bottom closed and entrance reduced. They hardly fly out, their movement inside slowed down. It is visible that they are falling asleep. They will sleep for 5-6 months.
After a week w/ highs in the 40's and 50's (maybe one day in the low 60's) and three days of rain my bees are sucking down 2-1 syrup big time in an open feeder.
My late caught swarm is the only one I'm feeding inside right now.
There's nothing available outside for my bees right now, so I'll continue to open feed any day we get in the fifty's or above until they stop taking it. That's also when I'll prepare for winter close up. The date changes every year, but should come around mid October. As a precaution I place dry sugar inside all my hives at close up.
So.....I guess I stop feeding when Spring dandelions appear in early May ;).
thomas
I agree, feed until they have enough. I like to start feeding early, they take a lot more syrup on warm days. But they'll generally take feed until the end of October, assuming it isn't too cold.
Quote from: BlueBee on September 24, 2011, 12:54:19 PM
Don't want any swarms at this point.
Bluebee, I'm afraid you might run out of time. I can say confidently that the risk of inducing swarming with feeding so late is extremely low, close to zero. Even if the box is crowded with young bees.
When you notice a decreased activity and temperature inside the hive, they will not take the syrup; and what they take remains uncapped.
Boca, you are probably right.
My highly insulated foam designs are a bit experimental though so I'm being a little more cautious right now. I have seen some posts in the forums of swarms in Michigan in September. If it can happen in a cold wood hive, it may be even more likely in a warm foam hive. I don't know.
I heard a story from a Michigan bee keep last year about a friend encasing their hive put 3" (7.6cm) of foam and having a swarm in December! A Christmas swarm :-D
My plan is to hold off on the feeding until the pollen is just about done and the flowers are all but done. The golden rod is about on its last leg here, but the asters are going strong. If it turns too cold to evaporate the syrup, I can always stick some of my electric heaters in there for assist :)
How much does the hive weigh? How many frames of bees are there? What did you pick as a target weight? If you are at what you think is the target weight for that size of a cluster for your winters, then you should not feed anymore.
Earlier is better than later as they need to dry it and cap it...