I read about feeding but i am not clear in when to stop. They are still taking sugar water but they are going out and getting pollen.
I am in eastern NC.
As a general rule you want about 80% of the brood chamber backfilled with honey and pollen.
When they start drawing burr comb on top of the frames they are starting to get to the point that they have sufficient winter stores.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on August 17, 2013, 11:51:28 PM
When they start drawing burr comb on top of the frames they are starting to get to the point that they have sufficient winter stores.
Never heard this, thanks.
I see burr comb right now, but my weak hive only has about three of the eight frames filled.
My strong hive has most of the bottom deep full.
If you see burr comb now, then look into those frames that are drawn out and see if they are packed with the syrup you are feeding..
I was told two things..
If your bees are drawing foundation FEED!
If your bees are TAKING syrup then Keep feeding!
This information is NOT correct. At least, as I applied it. I put feeders on, and kept feeding, and they kept sucking the syrup down.. I wondered why I had so little brood, and came to find out that as soon as they finished drawing out a cell they filled it with syrup. They had no place to put pollen, and the queen had no place to lay.
I pulled the feeders, because we HAD a great flow going on, and a few weeks later my hives began to grow (finally)
Wizened beekeepers explained to me that if theres a flow, there is no need to feed, EVEN if they are drawing comb.. Feeding is to help bees that have nothing to eat or to medicate. To help them get a good start, or to help them prepare for winter.
Hope that helps!
End of September.
Sounds like I should stop feeding. I see them bring in pollen and the Crete myrtles are blooming.
Quote from: Modenacart on August 18, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
Sounds like I should stop feeding. I see them bring in pollen and the Crete myrtles are blooming.
If you are feeding your bees after May1 you are doing something wrong unless it is to:
1. Kick-start a swarm or package.
2. Medicate a hive for a specific disease treatment.
3. Re-establish stores consumed during a period of extended inclement weather.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on August 18, 2013, 06:38:15 PM
Quote from: Modenacart on August 18, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
Sounds like I should stop feeding. I see them bring in pollen and the Crete myrtles are blooming.
If you are feeding your bees after May1 you are doing something wrong unless it is to:
1. Kick-start a swarm or package.
2. Medicate a hive for a specific disease treatment.
3. Re-establish stores consumed during a period of extended inclement weather.
Or made a mistake and robbed a hive to the bare minimum
Quote from: sc-bee on August 18, 2013, 08:37:29 PM
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on August 18, 2013, 06:38:15 PM
Quote from: Modenacart on August 18, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
Sounds like I should stop feeding. I see them bring in pollen and the Crete myrtles are blooming.
If you are feeding your bees after May1 you are doing something wrong unless it is to:
1. Kick-start a swarm or package.
2. Medicate a hive for a specific disease treatment.
3. Re-establish stores consumed during a period of extended inclement weather.
Or made a mistake and robbed a hive to the bare minimum
they were two nucs I got three weeks ago.
Quote from: sc-bee on August 18, 2013, 08:37:29 PM
Or made a mistake and robbed a hive to the bare minimum
Not in reference to you moden.. :) Just another reason folks may have to feed.
I inspected today and the strong hive was packed with honey and tons of eggs and brood.
The weak hive had uncapped sugar water, pollen and uncapped and capped brood but it was getting too dark to see eggs. I didn't see the queen.
I have stopped feeding both hives. It is bunk they will stop taking sugar water when there is a good nectar flow. There is tons blooming now.
It is bunk they will stop taking sugar water when there is a good nectar flow.
This is my experience as well... Quart jar of 1/1 Sugar water lasted two days despite a plethora of pollen/Nectar.
>It is bunk they will stop taking sugar water when there is a good nectar flow.
Rarely, they do stop. Usually they do not stop.