I caught my first swarm about 4 weeks ago, with the emphasis on FIRST. Brand new to be keeping. I have a few questions that I hope some of you can help me with.
1. The have taken about 4 gallons of syrup over the 4 week time frame, and I would like to stop feeding them. is there any downside to that?
2. Yesterday, I noticed a tremendous amount of bees around the syrup and realized that there were bees coming from at least two other places, and most looked like drones. Any chance of luring another swarm into an empty have near the feeder?
3. Is there a possibility that I may need to add another deep to my hive this year, the swarm was rather small.
Thanks for any advice.
If there is a nectar flow on, you can quit feeding if you want. What kind of feeder are you using? A feeder will not increase the chases of a swarm. How many frames have the bees drawn out?
Have not done an full hive inspection yet, just peeked under the cover a few times. Plan on going in this weekend. The feeder I am using is just an inverted one gallon jar with holes in the lid. I set it right next to the hive on the first gallon and then moved it a little futher away each time I refilled. Its now about 40 ft away from the hive. Three reason for doing it this way were:
1. I dont have a entrance feeder
2. i read that feeding away from the hive is less conducive to robbing
3. The ants are terrible.
You are also feeding every bee in town. But that is ok to save your hive. I guess you reduced your entrance. And where is that swamp you live in?
I am definitley feeding every bee in town as of yesterday. I watch the feeder almost every afternoon when I get home from work and yesterday was the first time I noticed bees coming and going from other places. Dismal Swamp is in the southeast corner of the state. Straddles the state line into NC.
bust out some swarm traps if you got others coming in.. bait em up.