Question from the MS Gulf Coast (No Honey Stores).

[jsfore]

Hello, I installed a 5 frame nuc into a 10 frame deep box on 04/30. As of today (09/10), there is not one single capped honey on any of the 10 frames. There is capped brood, larva and eggs. being that it will not get cold here until mid to late November, do I have time to supplement feed them so that they can store something up for the winter? If so, what should I use and at what ratio?

[KeyLargoBees]

How much if any uncapped honey is there?....remember humidity/heat affects how long it takes to get honey capped and MS gulf coast this time of year has brutal heat and humidity still if memory of my childhood on the TX gulf coast is any indication...I have frames here in the FL Keys that have been nectar filled for over a month and a half that still aren't capped.

[BeeMaster2]

My OH is full of uncapped honey. 3 weeks ago it was full of brood, 8 frames of solid brood, I removed the queen and 3 frames (split it), with very little honey, just a little in the top frame. Now they are all full and only a hand full are capped and the bees are making wax in the bottom and the 3 empty frames and filling them. Feel the weight of the hive. That will tell you a lot. I have all of my hives set so that I can use my fingertips to pick up the back of the hives to feel how heavy they are. That will tell you a lot.
Jim

[GSF]

Have they pretty much filled out most of the frames? as in drawn comb. Was your queen marked/is she still there? If not you may have lost population due to a swarm and they ain't had the workforce to git er done. Most of my 5 frame nucs I sold this year have drawn out/fill out two supers and also threw a swarm. I'm wondering if lack of space may have been an issue. btw - Welcome to beemaster! doors always open and a biscuit's on the table.

[jsfore]

7 out of the 10 frames are completely drawn out. three are still bare foundation. I could not find the queen when I checked but that doesn't mean much since I am still knew at this. She is not marked. I did not see any uncapped honey.? Did see what I thought was some nectar and pollen. Thanks for the replies.