I have lots of stores left from dead-outs this winter. Besides putting some frames of honey in the first box with the new packages, I was wondering about placing a frame at a time in an empty covered deep on top, (above the inner cover) rather than giving them 1:1 syrup. Part of the reason is that I have 10 deep frames of capped stores, and I have reduced the rest of my equipment to mediums. I want to empty out these deep frames so that I can then cut them down. I also don't want to have frames of stores hanging around for weeks, if the bees could take and use it now.
Are there any reasons that this would be a bad idea? I'm thinking that they will be using the honey at a pretty good pace to start out (though they won't need to build comb with all the drawn comb that I have on hand), so I don't imagine that I'll have to worry about them back-filling the brood nest too early.
Capped stores are always the best way to feed a colony. It does not set off robbing and they don't have to process it at all...
I will be adding a package of bees to a winter dead out hive (large box). I have already cleaned everything up and will be going foundation-less with the exception of the capped honey. My only issue right now is how to place the capped frames in the hive, center, left/right of center or outer? I was fortunate to find a local source of bees, I had a good hive left until early spring, but that hive seems to have lost its Queen.
Good luck and may you be blessed with tons of honey!
I'm planning to put 4 empty combs in the center, flanked by some partially filled combs on either side of them, and then full combs of honey on the outside.
I have two open frame in the center flanked by a frame of partial capped and open cells with two more empty frame and a full. If we can get sunshine in the afternoon I may be able to install the package despite the cold temps of around 39. Heres to hoping!
Having some stores closer in sounds like a good idea, what with the still-chilly weather - I think I'll do the same.
I installed the package this morning and a queen for my other hive. It was 44 when I started and it is now 47 with a rather stiff 10-15mph breeze (thats normal for us here, for at least 300 days a year). Behind the wind wall it was much warmer and the bees are finding there way around, I'll need to go out in a while and see how many are still in the package. The Queenless hive was very interested in the new Queen and I saw no overtly aggressiveness and it seemed like they were pleased to find a queen. The next move will be to reduce the amount of honey stores in that hive and replace with open frames for them to build comb on. Tonight is supposed to drop into the low 30s, upper 20s but with the sunshine and all day to get established I have no qualms for there survival. Hope you are having good luck with yours.
Made a quick check on the re-Queened hive yesterday, found an absolutely beautiful frame with eggs! I was a bit worried as I had to release the queen after four days, I popped the cork and she dove straight into the hive, and I had seen little activity outside the hive. They have plenty of stores in a medium and large hive boxes. I only took peek because of the lack of activity and as soon as I saw the eggs put it all back and closed up. So I am a happy geek today!
Quote from: Highlander on May 03, 2015, 09:42:36 AM
Made a quick check on the re-Queened hive yesterday, found an absolutely beautiful frame with eggs! I was a bit worried as I had to release the queen after four days, I popped the cork and she dove straight into the hive, and I had seen little activity outside the hive. They have plenty of stores in a medium and large hive boxes. I only took peek because of the lack of activity and as soon as I saw the eggs put it all back and closed up. So I am a happy geek today!
Good deal. Hopefully things will be booming for you soon. Bees are just getting real busy here.