Bees are powering thru syrup ???

[hollybees]

Hi Everyone,
I have a question I have not found the answer to in my books or maybe I just missed it.

My bees are going through close to a quart a day of sugar syrup right now.

F.Y.I. I setup 2 hives this spring so their new and so am I.

Their building comb fast and their working a 2nd medium super above the excluder.
I believe there is a flow on right now and I'll bet they've just about drawn 80% of the 2nd super.

Also have not seen them bring much pollen in for awhile either, which troubles me.
I know they had alot stored and I'm going to do an inspection this weekend to check what they have left.
You'd think there would be plenty available this time of year.

My question is this...are they eating the syrup or storing it??
I wouldn't want them storing it in the honey supers.....or would they?

Ok, I'm going to push a little further and ask yet another question that perplexes me.
I wanted bee's for my garden and my wife's many flower gardens, we have about 4 acres and much of it has flowers or vegetable's on it.

However I  rarely see any of my bees anywhere..... but at their hives and flying straight up from them.
That is a little unexpected I guess there must be something better somewhere else, are there any tricks to
attract them??

Thanks for listening to my concerns and for previous help given me.
It's much appreciated!!!

[Moonshae]

If you're feeding syrup and there's a flow on, they'll store it. So, you won't be able to sell your honey, since it's adulterated with syrup. Only feed to build out the brood boxes; once honey supers go on, stop feeding.

The bees will forage for the best sources they find at a given time. If the vegetables or flowers you're growing are not attractive to bees, they will pass them up. You say there's a flow on, so the bees are probably working that over your garden. They also may be visiting your plants at a different time of day than you're looking, too.

[hollybees]

If you're feeding syrup and there's a flow on, they'll store it. So, you won't be able to sell your honey, since it's adulterated with syrup. Only feed to build out the brood boxes; once honey supers go on, stop feeding.

The bees will forage for the best sources they find at a given time. If the vegetables or flowers you're growing are not attractive to bees, they will pass them up. You say there's a flow on, so the bees are probably working that over your garden. They also may be visiting your plants at a different time of day than you're looking, too.

Man I just knew it!!! I just read somewhere that you should feed them till they don't take it anymore.
That they will prefer the natural sources over the syrup.
The way they were going threw it knew they had to be storing it.
I didn't intend to sell my honey but I have people that want some. Is it inedible??
If I add another super and stop feeding them will the store's they have, sustain them through the winter?

Should trusted my instincts!
Thanks so much for your advice!

[SgtMaj]

The honey is still edible I think... and I think you could still sell it if you label it as adulterated honey.  It would be illegal to sell it without the adulterated being clearly visible on the label though. 

I may be mistaken though... something in my mind keeps nagging me saying that's if you do that with corn syrup, not sugar syrup.  Someone else might be able to clear that up though.

[hollybees]

If you're feeding syrup and there's a flow on, they'll store it. So, you won't be able to sell your honey, since it's adulterated with syrup. Only feed to build out the brood boxes; once honey supers go on, stop feeding.

The bees will forage for the best sources they find at a given time. If the vegetables or flowers you're growing are not attractive to bees, they will pass them up. You say there's a flow on, so the bees are probably working that over your garden. They also may be visiting your plants at a different time of day than you're looking, too.

[Brian D. Bray]

If you're feeding syrup and there's a flow on, they'll store it. So, you won't be able to sell your honey, since it's adulterated with syrup. Only feed to build out the brood boxes; once honey supers go on, stop feeding.

The bees will forage for the best sources they find at a given time. If the vegetables or flowers you're growing are not attractive to bees, they will pass them up. You say there's a flow on, so the bees are probably working that over your garden. They also may be visiting your plants at a different time of day than you're looking, too.

Man I just knew it!!! I just read somewhere that you should feed them till they don't take it anymore.
That they will prefer the natural sources over the syrup.
The way they were going threw it knew they had to be storing it.
I didn't intend to sell my honey but I have people that want some. Is it inedible??
If I add another super and stop feeding them will the store's they have, sustain them through the winter?

Should trusted my instincts!
Thanks so much for your advice!

There used to be a saying that went: "Believe only half of what you read."  But I think it was Will Rogers who up dated that with: "Only believe half of what you see and little of what you read."  The problem with too many how to books (Beekeeping is in that category) is they print the Rosy and leave out the really important stuff, the "qualifiers".

[danno]

our weather here in Michigan has so far been perfect.  70 to 80 deg days, lots of sun with a weekly rains.  Milkweed, vetch, sumac and clover just to name a few  is everywhere.  My bees are also heading in large numbers south to the river bottoms.