Indication to start feeding?

snowmix · June 15, 2015, 10:10:40 AM

This chart represents the weight of my beehive over the last 3 days. Would the lack of weight gain indicate the need to start feeding? The weights were taken every 5 min for 72hrs

KeyLargoBees · June 15, 2015, 10:12:23 AM

Chart doesn't appear to have attached.

sc-bee · June 15, 2015, 11:22:57 AM

way above my simple mind. Looks kind of steady at 70 to me. What is the hive make up, one deep etc. Could the weight gain/loss be brood etc. I really think looking at weights on a scale over a few days is over-thinking the situation IMHO. But honestly I have no clue...I just look inside the hive

Colobee · June 15, 2015, 11:49:29 AM

That's a very interesting effort! It does show that things have leveled off but I wouldn't worry about feeding until it falls for at least a few days. Flows come & go - it could turn back on ( or totally off) in you region. The question about "what hive" (composition - new, single deep, double...?) is a good one.

Need more info! Keep up the detailed work, your contribution will be helpful to those that follow!

Michael Bush · June 15, 2015, 01:36:53 PM

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#when

"Q. When is the best time to feed the bees?
"A. The best thing is never to feed them, but let them gather their own stores. But if the season is a failure, as it is some years in most places, then you must feed. The best time for that is just as soon as you know they will need feeding for winter; say in August or September. October does very well, however, and even if you haven't fed until December, better feed then than to let the bees starve."
--C.C. Miller, A Thousand Answers to Beekeeping Questions, 1917

cao · June 15, 2015, 08:47:18 PM

Just a thought, but could it be that the bees are evaporating the water off the nectar as fast as they are bringing it in?

snowmix · June 15, 2015, 11:31:55 PM

The hive is two medium 8 frames with an 8 frame deep on top of that. I need to write a better program that can time stamp readings. I think those sharp dips in weight may be when all the workers leave the hive in the morning. I will let it run for a week now and see what I come up with.

I plan to share the plans for building this scale once I get it hooked up to WIFI and programmed the way I want it. I wonder if there is any other sensors that could be placed in a hive that could give useful information.

I could probably install temperature, humidity, sound, and gases like methane or CO2.

snowmix · June 25, 2015, 11:19:31 PM

Looks like I have gained 4 pounds in 10 days. This was a package that re queened it self as soon as she laid a few eggs. I know the population is not where it should be but it seems to be looking ok. You here about hives putting on 4 pounds a day must be nice...