Hive questions, advice welcome.

[Sniper338]

One of my nucs is in a 10 frame deep brood box, its been growing really well, still not full, still have multiple frames they havent started drawing out yet.

I have a frame feeder in it with sugar syrup... they arent even touching the feeder. Its still full as it was last week. There are about three frames of brood smack full of capped brood, both sides, so theres about to be an explosion in bee numbers. LOTS of pollen stored, however not much to any nector or honey stored. Not even around the brood. The hive is just capped brood and pollen... I did see a few eggs in cells, that were open around the brood. Not a ton of eggs though.

1. How long does the sugar water last before it goes bad and needs changed out?

2. Why would they not be drinking any of the sugar water, and not storing any nector anywhere? The frames on the outside of the brood nest are empty cells, nothing in them...



Second hive - This hive is currently a 2 deep hive. They were emptying the frame feeder weekly. There was so much nector stores last week, and they were out of space filling cells with nector that I took out the frame feeder as they had plenty stored. Brood nest is small because they have no room with all the nector stored. Lots of pollen too.

They still had some frames they hadnt drawn out in the bottom box, so I staggered them in the box. This week, they drew out a little, but they arent drawing out enough comb either. Most of the new frames that werent in the original nuc havent been drawn out. They had a big boom in numbers where the lower box was full of bees and they were down right aggressive. One of my mentors said to add the second box last week to give them more room.

This week with the second box they are back to much more docile, still got plenty nector and pollen, in fact, they comb they have drawn out is packed with more nector... the brood is small in numbers in this hive still.

So even with the frame feeder out, they are still getting nector and some capped honey now. Yet they just arent drawing out comb to make more room..

So the common factor is comb isnt getting drawn out in both hives on the frames...  some od the new frames are covered in bees, but they arent drawing it out...

[cao]

>How long does the sugar water last before it goes bad and needs changed out?

It can look pretty nasty and still be good.  If they are not taking it then I would get it out of the hive(it's just taking up space).

>Why would they not be drinking any of the sugar water, and not storing any nector anywhere?

They are getting what they need from outside the hive.  Nectar is much better than sugar syrup.  If the bees have a choice they normally choose the nectar.

>So the common factor is comb isnt getting drawn out in both hives on the frames

Bees never draw comb like the beekeeper wants. They draw comb when they need it.

No two hives act the same.  Some like a huge brood nest while others like a smaller and steady supply of new bees.  Some are slow starters and will kick it in gear and be more productive then the early big ones.  As a beekeeper it is our job to see what each hive needs and give it to them.  Sounds like they are doing just what they want.

[Acebird]

How's the weather in Sanatone, tx?  Are you having a strong flow or a so so flow?  I remember as a kid your area was dry except when we rode through with a camper.  Major flood with 18 wheeler's all over the place.  Seems like the roads turn to ice after a heavy rain.
Patience is a good thing with bees.  If doing nothing is the wrong thing to do it usually becomes obvious whereas if doing something is the wrong thing to do it becomes confusing.

[Sniper338]

How's the weather in Sanatone, tx?  Are you having a strong flow or a so so flow?  I remember as a kid your area was dry except when we rode through with a camper.  Major flood with 18 wheeler's all over the place.  Seems like the roads turn to ice after a heavy rain.
Patience is a good thing with bees.  If doing nothing is the wrong thing to do it usually becomes obvious whereas if doing something is the wrong thing to do it becomes confusing.

Its getting dry and we need rain...  havent seen a flow yet this year in my area.  Some other counties are getting wildflower flows, other counties havent seen anything yet..  its all scattered out...  about to start getting misrible hot..

[Acebird]

Its getting dry and we need rain...  havent seen a flow yet this year in my area.  Some other counties are getting wildflower flows, other counties havent seen anything yet..  its all scattered out...  about to start getting misrible hot..

That is something I have no experience with so I don't know what the ramifications are for feeding or how to do it so the hive doesn't grow to collapse.

[Hops Brewster]

If they are not taking the syrup it is because;
A- they have something much better than syrup coming in from the outside (nectar and pollen)
B- the syrup has gone bad (see A-).

The syrup can ferment or turn sour rather quickly, within a few days, or it can stay good for a week or longer.  Depends on temperatures and what bacteria or yeasts it is contaminated with and other factors.  How does it smell?  If it stinks, I remove it.  If they stop taking it, I remove it.

[Captain776]

I have the 2 compartment plastic frame feeders.
Right now I have 1/2" of dry sugar in the big side and there is always bees in it but they drink a full small side if syrup per day