I started two packages in mediums full of drawn frames from earlier hives. Some of these frames have stores - capped and uncapped - and some are empty comb. Will this present problems because the package has no comb to draw? Also, I have been feeding them additionally with a frame of stores (capped and uncapped) hung in a deep over the inner cover (I have a fair number of frames like this that I want to get used up, as described in an earlier thread). I am starting to suspect that the bees may actually be coming up and putting nectar into this lone frame above the inner cover... maybe to save space for brood down below? Is that likely/possible?
As long as you do not overfeed and they fill all the comb with nectar you will be okay.When brood rearing gets going they will burn up the stores.Just don't let them backfill all the comb.
You are using more than one medium for each package I assume?
I installed them each in a single medium; per advice, I am waiting for them to look 80% full before adding another medium below. Of course, with some of the frames already full of honey from my deadouts, it won't take long before they are at 80%. Today I saw that both hives have about 3 frame sides with brood, and they are definitely bringing in a good amount of nectar and pollen. They do not seem to be using any of the capped honey, tho there was also some uncapped honey that overwintered. They were also definitely storing nectar in the frame that I placed above the inner cover - ditto for a piece of comb with bee bread that I had saved (frozen) from the fall, and just dropped onto the inner cover. I took that out to avoid a mess...
I would add the second medium 3 weeks after install. That is when the new bees will begin emerging and the hive population will start to increase. If you have one available, you could add one frame with foundation into the brood nest to give them room and something to draw, just as insurance.
I started all my packages this year on drawn comb. I had around 5 drawn frames per hive. It took about 3 weeks with feeding to get them ready for the second hive body and they seem very strong at the moment. The packages came in March 25th so I am now 6+ weeks into this season with the 2nd hive bodies filling out nicely. You can't go wrong if you freeze the original drawn comb to kill pests such as wax moths. I let mine sit in the freezer for several weeks...... thank God my wife loves me!!!