Are your bees preparing for a bad summer nectar flow?

[heartofthehive.com]

I am a fairly new beekeeper (this is my second year). I had four hives last year, two of which swarmed out of top-bar hives midway through the year. The two in standard hives didn't make it through the winter (unusually brutal New England winter).

I have four new hives this year. I got the packages on 5/21. I put top feeders with sugar water on all the hives.

At one week: All queens were out of their queen boxes. One hive had larva, all four hives had a LOT of nectar, with a lot of capped nectar. Also, the capped nectar cells were significantly deeper than the other cells. Only two of the hives appeared to have been eating the sugar water. Two still had full top feeders.

At two weeks: All four hives had larva. All hives also had at least one frame filled entirely with uncapped nectar, and capped nectar at the top of 5-8 sides of frames. Two hives face south; two face east. They had all left two untouched frames on the north or west side of the hive.

I told my husband I thought it was odd that they would be storing so much nectar so early in the season. Is it odd?

Now, last night, I read an article about how there would be no summer for much of the US (including New England). Would the bees be preparing for that?

The article is on accuweather dot com, but I can't post the URL here because I am new to the forum.

What are you finding?

Thanks.
Alexis
Bethel, CT

[bassman1977]

I told my husband I thought it was odd that they would be storing so much nectar so early in the season. Is it odd?

No.  My hives get packed pretty quickly in the spring because of all the flows.  This year, they filled up the brood boxes pretty quick but then the rain came and they can't get the supers full.  They can't get out on a consistent basis to fill them up.

Now, last night, I read an article about how there would be no summer for much of the US (including New England).

Farmer's Almanac calls for a warm and rainy summer.  So far they are right...well the rainy part anyway...it's been kinda cool.  It's not summer yet so we'll see.

Would the bees be preparing for that?

They are always trying to stay prepared by having enough food.  It's just if there is any to be found or not.  If they know what the weather is going to be 2 months down the road...I dunno...I doubt it.  That's why they are always out and about...get it while the getting is good.

What are you finding?

Just that the rain is slowing them down.

[gaucho10]

***I told my husband I thought it was odd that they would be storing so much nectar so early in the season. Is it odd?***

Not at all.

Bees collect nectar because "they can". :-D  It is part of their life cycle.  So if there is a good nectar flow they will collect it as soon as they can and then perhaps have a chance to reproduce and "swarm".  They might be able to do that several times per season.  If a beekeeper can control the swarming process and rob them  :evil: of their honey then they both win.

[utahbeekeeper]

You didn't say when you stopped feeding.  Is it the sugar syrup they are storing?  If it has only been 3 weeks, you prolly should still be feeding anyway while they are drawing comb.

Also, others are right on!  If there is a flow, the bees will bring it in.  They are not like a wooly caterpillar showing more fuzz if a bad winter is coming. 

[bassman1977]

If it has only been 3 weeks, you prolly should still be feeding anyway while they are drawing comb.

If there is a flow going on, I would stop feeding.  Don't want to make your hive honey bound (or syrup bound for that matter).

[RZRBCK BEE]

How do you know for sure the flow is going on? What are the first signs?

[TwT]

well our dearth here usually last 3 1/2 months, the last 3-4 years they lasted to the next spring because of droughts we had no fall flows, I am buying sugar when ever I find it on sale because I will be feeding all summer to raise more queens and increase hive count, hopefully I will have a fall flow this year because I haven't smelled that stinky goldenrod curing in my hive for about 3-4 years now but just in case I will probably be feeding also....

[bassman1977]

How do you know for sure the flow is going on? What are the first signs?

Flowers.  It would be helpful to know the flowers (including the flowering trees) in your area or the area your bees forage and know what is a good nectar producer, good pollen producer, etc.

[RZRBCK BEE]

How do you know for sure the flow is going on? What are the first signs?

Flowers.  It would be helpful to know the flowers (including the flowering trees) in your area or the area your bees forage and know what is a good nectar producer, good pollen producer, etc.

Thank you.