feeding estimate

[pugbee]

I  am a new beek, won't get my nucs for another week. But I got a swarm 2 days ago, I am wondering how much syrup  they will go through every couple of days or so. We have fruit trees , dandelions,etc in bloom. I have talked to older beeks in my area about this they basically ignored my questions. Most deny the fact that I have got a swarm, said it is to early.

[Spear]

Bees are like teenage boys - They can never get enough food!
That being said I would not feed for too long - only a day or two to help them get a good start on drawing out comb then the nectar flow should be enough to sustain them.

[10framer]

if you're in oregon i would think you're still several weeks from a major flow.  maybe late may?  are they drawing comb? 

[Wolfer]

Just my opinion but if there's a flow on then you could have a swarm. Like Spear I would just feed a day or two till they get settled.

[pugbee]

10framer,I gave them a pollen patty,qt. of syrup and  water closeby. I haven't looked back in the box as I didn' want to disturb them. So I don' t know if they are building comb or not. I had planned to leave them alone until this weekend.I do know that they are all over my fruit and maple trees. there is not much activity today as it is raining.

[mikecva]

With a flow on, I would not worry about a pollen patty. I would feed 1:1 syrup until they stopped taking it or you are putting on a honey super. Do not feed with any honey supers on unless you are building extra frames for over wintering (then it is not your honey but the bees.)  -Mike

[10framer]

from his location and description along with the local beekeepers telling him he shouldn't have a swarm yet i doubt there is a flow on.   someone more local to him should be able to give him a better answer, though.  i've never fed pollen substitutes but my location is very, very different.  my bees bring in pollen from january until october or even november depending on the first frost.

[Joe D]

I would agree with Mike and Farmer, feed as long as they take it or start putting it up in the comb.  Down here I have never had to feed pollen, but I am not near you.  Send Kathy a pm she lots closer to you.  Good luck




Joe

[Intheswamp]

Howdy, ya'll. :)

It's really hard to guess the amount of syrup that they will go through.  The size of the swarm matters...big swarm takes a lot, small swarm takes less.  Is there a good flow on?....often they will ignore syrup during a good flow. :)  Etc.,....

How are you feeding them?...jars, baggies, frame-feeder, hive-top,...hopefully no entrance feeders.  Feed them with the method you choose and then check them every couple of days to get a feel for what they're taking.  I prefer jars placed over the screened escape hole of an inner cover with a super surrounding it and the top covering it....but, everybody has their favorite. ;)

As for the pollen supplement, I've never fed it to a swarm, either.

Best wishes,
(long lost) Ed

[johng]

I feed swarms and new hives as much as they will take until they are ready to put supers on. Most prime swarms caught early in the year will make a nice honey crop if you can get them built up quickly. Now granted that's just me and they probably don't need that much feed to get going. They normally won't swarm until right before the flow starts for your area so theoretically they wouldn't need much feed at all. If you have a couple other hives coming I would go ahead and buy a 50# bag of sugar and just mix up enough syrup to last a couple days at a time. You can easily use a 50# bag of sugar for a few hives.   

[labradorfarms]

I have 2 packages that were hived about 10 days ago..... One hive is stronger and  a little larger. That hive takes about a quart per day. The smaller weaker on only takes about half a quart per day....

So far I have gone through about 25 pounds of sugar..... That's with a 1 to 1 ratio......
I bought 4- 10 pound bags to start with... When I go back to walmart. I am going to start getting 25 pound bags to save money..
I had no idea how fast the bees put away sugar..