Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: TBridgers on October 26, 2014, 11:35:48 AM

Title: Help Robbing terrible!!
Post by: TBridgers on October 26, 2014, 11:35:48 AM
I have 7 hives in my backyard and all are doing well and fairly strong. I did some inspections last week and found that a couple of my hives that had honey stores no longer have any. I feel like they have been robbed. I have been feeding all my bees a little 2:1 syrup maybe once a week just because. After I feed them all the hives really perk up and get real active. Our fall flow here is over I know because bees are all over my house and barn looking for anything sweet.

Any ideas?

I feel like if I keep feeding they will keep robbing. Can I wait until it gets really cool to feed so there outside activity is limited? I am feeding with a hive top feeder.

Thanks. TB



Title: Re: Help Robbing terrible!!
Post by: iddee on October 26, 2014, 11:59:24 AM
This works pretty well.


http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,1420.msg19070.html#msg19070 (http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,1420.msg19070.html#msg19070)
Title: Re: Help Robbing terrible!!
Post by: AllenF on October 26, 2014, 05:42:06 PM
Reduce your entrance to just where one or two bees can get in or out at one time.  That way a smaller hive can defend itself. 
Title: Re: Help Robbing terrible!!
Post by: GSF on October 26, 2014, 10:24:05 PM
"T" - What Allen said,

Not meaning to insult your intelligence, but do you know the difference between robbing and orientation flights? I read on here and have noticed that orientation flights usually take place in the late afternoon. Are you feeding using entrance feeders? If so that's part of the problem. I finally went to feeding them through an inner cover that has a jar lid size hole. That keeps the smell away from the front of the hive.

Welcome to the forum, and ask all the questions you'd like. It will help us if you put your general location down. A lot of bee keeping questions are location specific.
Title: Re: Help Robbing terrible!!
Post by: Michael Bush on October 27, 2014, 12:09:26 PM
> I have been feeding all my bees a little 2:1 syrup maybe once a week just because.

Which is probably what set off the robbing...

>I feel like if I keep feeding they will keep robbing.

Most likely.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm)
Title: Re: Help Robbing terrible!!
Post by: jredburn on October 28, 2014, 10:55:47 PM
Do a Google on robbing screens, they really work.