Am at week four on the new package. Running two 8 frame mediums. Bottom medium is about 90% drawn and top medium is about 50% drawn. Queen has been active in both supers with good brood pattern. First new bees emerged late this last week. Lots of capped and uncapped brood. Appears to be good supply of both pollen and capped honey. But.... Wondering if the capped "honey" is sugar water. Had a hive top feeder on until this past weekend. Removed it and placed an entrance feeder on to watch more closely how much sugar water they are taking up. Since Saturday, they have gone through a pint. Running 1:1 ratio sugar to water with Honey-B-Healthy supplement per mix instructions 1 Tablespoon per gallon. Do I have a lazy colony or are they "normal?" Have read they will quite taking sugar on their own. Tulip Poplar has been the bloom that has been going gangbusters! Black locust up next. Questions about right sugar to water ratio. Welcome advice. Thanks.
I've seen this with new swarms also, where they will continue to take feed even when there is good forage around. I think it might have something to do with numbers of bees in the new package or swarm. If they go out to forage, then there are not as many bees to care for brood. So, if there is feed available at the hive, maybe they take that because it allows them to keep more bees in the hive to care for brood, since a new package or swarm is most likely in the mode to raise brood.
It's just something I've seen. I don't know if that's really why they do it.
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First s t o p feeding.
New bees become to foraging age after 2-3 weeks.
Let them get food from nature.
In VA you need 3 mediums for brood, keep feeding until you get 80% of the third box drawn. Then stop and let your honey supers get drawn with forage. Remember bees dont like to draw comb above an excluder so leave that off until the draw 80% of the fourth box
+1 what Finski said.
I've hived nearly 2 dozen swarms this spring and didn't give a single one a drop of sugar water.
The only reason we recommend feeding is they make and draw comb faster with an in house source of carbs (lot less work). They will do what they need to get what they need but ive yielded more honey feeding for a while thus they build faster storing sooner. They will not take to much until they get past the up swing. Not feeding is a personal choice I think but it does have it benefits.
Thanks for the reply. Always good to hear from someone in the local area. Helps to understand what is unique about the situation. they are taking a quart in three days. There are lots of new bees hatching each day, so they need the energy to build comb. They are drawing on crimped wire and seem to be doing a very nice job. Will continue to feed this week and see where they are by Saturday.
Quote from: Shanevrr on May 28, 2012, 11:49:10 PM
In VA you need 3 mediums for brood, keep feeding until you get 80% of the third box drawn.
That stupid 80% rule. It is from nowhere.
First, 3 mediums need a huge swarm, 4 kg bees.
Second, if you feed 80% to been draded, bees store syrup and cap it. It is away from brood.
Third: faster and faster. Combs need not to build faster because it take 3 weeks that the queen lay full the 3 mediums.
It is better first that bees consume honey for wax and then the hive has more room for brood.