Dearth/Chewed-to-Nothing Starter Strips

[Moonshae]

I appear to be in a dearth, so I started feeding...no honey to be found in either hive. They also chewed away all the wax on my starter strips. I'm guessing it would be a good idea to replace them, or stagger them before they draw comb every which way, huh? I thought I'd let them feed and chill out for a week before I go back in and do that...they were pretty hot compared to all my other inspections...attacking the hive tool when it appeared above the frames. I figured that once they get some of the sugar stored away, they'll calm down and be easier to manipulate. they're taking ¹/₂ gallon of syrup each day.

[doak]

At least you didn't loose a whole sheet of foundation. They will chew one to bits.
doak

[Cindi]

Moonshae.  Oh brother, let's hope things work out so much better this time with the feeding, I bet it will make a world of difference.

I had to feed three of my colonies yesterday.  They aren't bringing in any nectar to speak of and are not building comb.  They haven't even began to work on the plastic starter strip foundations that my husband cut the centre of the plastic out of yet.  Other hives have the starter strip drawn.

We have another month, until the end of August, first week of September before we start to feed for winter stores.  That being, if we take any honey off at all.

We have had weird weather up here and when some of the flows have been going on the weather has been too adverse for my bees to get out to get nectar.  Hmmm....we'll see come what may.  The weather has been so much nicer (except for the week of solid rain that we just got through).

Have a wonderful day, beautiful life and health.  Cindi

[Michael Bush]

That's why I like the triangular top bars or wooden starter strips.  They never chew them up, they never melt and fall out, they never get bent up.