Feeding Bees

[Fatboyslim]

Do you have to feed Bees in Winter in S.E Queensland? Do you have to feed bees at all here on the Sunshine Coast?

[lilyfrog]

I have hives in Nambour & Highworth on the Sunny Coast as well as hives in Brisbane, Ippy & Toowoomba.

I don't feed in any of my sites.
Depending where on the Coast your are, I would suggest you have your hives in Full Sun. I run dark blue brood boxes, and in winter run 2x frames full of honey each side of the brood over winter. (the honey asorbs heat through the day & returns it during the night)

HTH
Cheers
Mark

[Fatboyslim]

Thanks Mark,
I havent got bees at the moment but have just finished making my two bottom supers with frames. I hope to find a nice swarm of bees to kick off. I have watched people collect them but know it doesnt have much relationship to my own reality. I'm just praying that a swarm will be kind enough to hang on a low single branch and wait just for me.
Lloyd

[bigsting]

i would be puting your box out some where with foudation wax and a swarm luwer and see how you go i have farms i go and put boxes at every year in one spot in 2 year i have cough 7 swarms at one house do this in swarming sezen

[lilyfrog]

Lloyd,

You should start seeing swarms after the ekka,

here is a link to buy swarm lures: http://www.honeybee.com.au/catalogue/page8.htm


cheers
Mark

[Fatboyslim]

Thanks guys, I will buy some lures and put them out, after the Ekka