Fed three gallons in two weeks.

mherndon · September 01, 2008, 12:28:05 AM

I have my hive set up in another location about 125 miles away. I had friends tell me that their hummingbird feeder was covered up with honey bees a couple of weeks ago. I thought I better start feeding mine. I put three gallons of a 2 to 1 mix in my hivetop feeder. I went back after two weeks and it was dry. I put 4 gallons in this time and hope to go back in a week to check again. Is this unusual for them to eat this much? I plan on medicating with antibiotic around October, but would only use a gallon mix with the fumigillin-b. I gave them another super for stores just in case also. Can anyone tell me if this is the right procedure?

Michael Bush · September 01, 2008, 10:07:59 AM

>Can anyone tell me if this is the right procedure?

You'll have to find someone who believes in treating to find the answer to that. IMO, it's not. :) I've never used fumigillin-b. If you are, then read the label, or go to MMAREC's site and look for the answer.
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/factsheets.html
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/FALL_MGM.PDF

More about fumidil:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesterms.htm#fumidil
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htm#nosema

Ross · September 01, 2008, 08:53:31 PM

I have fed 3 gallons of plain syrup in an hour at times.

Two Bees · September 02, 2008, 09:22:39 AM

Ross,

Three gallons of plain syrup in an hour?

Damonh · September 02, 2008, 09:53:50 AM

I was going through a 1-1/2 chicken feeder of 1:1 every two hours this summer. I have stopped feeding since the goldenrod has bloomed here in Pennsylvania.

bassman1977 · September 02, 2008, 11:43:37 AM

QuoteI have fed 3 gallons of plain syrup in an hour at times.

:shock:

ArmucheeBee · September 02, 2008, 01:36:36 PM

when you feed, should you keep it steady? the reason I ask is I had to stop to repair a feeder so it has been 3 days. another time they drank it all and I did not know they could drink it all that fast. So do these irregular times affect them? In nature it may be irregular.

EasternShore · September 02, 2008, 06:05:56 PM

Do they have water nearby? If not, they might be THIRSTY!!! hehe

My 3 hives...2 small swarms taken 2 months ago and my " mother" hive which is 2 deeps. The 2 small ones are ravenous, taking 1/2 gal per day (water 150 yards away) the big hive uses about a gallon a week and is very strong. We have been without rain for 2 months and they have nothing to feed on.