feeding honey

Carol · January 02, 2014, 02:45:29 PM

Right now the Red Maples are blooming and I still see pollen coming into the hives. My 2 hives were packages in Sept. so they've not had all year to build. I can see honey in frames but I'm also noticing more empty cells in the comb.
Question: How long would a quart of honey last a hive if nothing is blooming.

10framer · January 03, 2014, 01:43:57 AM

the red maple flow is what usually kick starts the queens up here. there are variables where the quart is concerned. depends on how strong the hive is and how much brood is emerging along with how many things like henbit are blooming. desn't make enough for them to really put any back but it can keep them going.

BeeMaster2 · January 03, 2014, 12:55:52 PM

Quote from: Carol on January 02, 2014, 02:45:29 PM
Right now the Red Maples are blooming and I still see pollen coming into the hives. My 2 hives were packages in Sept. so they've not had all year to build. I can see honey in frames but I'm also noticing more empty cells in the comb.
Question: How long would a quart of honey last a hive if nothing is blooming.

My question to you is, where did you get that quart of honey? If it is store bought, do not feed it to your bees. That is a good way to infect them with American Foul Brood (AFB). If it is honey that YOU got from your bees , that is a different story.
Never feed your bees store bought honey.
Jim

Carol · January 05, 2014, 04:00:46 PM

I've got 4 quarts from my hive that had 2 swarms leave it earlier in the year. Right now we still have stuff blooming...but expect 29* temps tonight and if a frost it will kill most of it....I keep track of the frames of honey (window) and I am seeing more empty cells. I'll see what happens tonight...if we do have a frost then I'll put a quart in each hive. I can feed sugar water 3/2 but would rather use the honey first.

If I still see pollen coming in does that mean there is also nectar available?

Carol · January 05, 2014, 05:27:14 PM

sawdstmakr .....I don't even feed myself store bought honey. :-X

BeeMaster2 · January 05, 2014, 11:30:37 PM

Quote from: Carol on January 05, 2014, 05:27:14 PM
sawdstmakr .....I don't even feed myself store bought honey. :-X

You and me both. The more I read about what goes into commercial hives, especially Chinese hives, the worse it looks.
Jim

RudyT · January 07, 2014, 01:32:27 PM

"Chinese" "honey" is just one more thing I didn't know about until I became a beekeeper.

Carol · January 07, 2014, 09:13:41 PM

also....I can buy local honey from a friend just down the road....but...he treats his hive and I am trying not to...so I will use his honey for myself and feed my untreated honey back to the bees if they need it.

Sundog · January 14, 2014, 05:38:18 PM

Quote...so I will use his honey for myself and feed my untreated honey back to the bees if they need it.

I think you are looking at this backwards. The bees are supposed to give you honey, not the other way around. Just don't steal all their stores going into winter, and then let the process of natural selection run its course. IMO your bees will be better (stronger) for it in the long run.

8-)

Carol · January 20, 2014, 12:21:45 PM

Sundog... I took the honey after 2 swarms left the hive. I was afraid it would be overrun with hive beetles or wax moths and I'd lose it all. After finding no queen or signs of one I installed a package in Sept and saved the honey for feeding back. Plans are to leave them all the honey they need for winter. Rather not have to feed since I leave for a week or so at a time....plus I want the hives to be as natural as possible. No meds etc...no feeding except in an emergency and then I'd prefer it to be their honey.