When to stop feeding and hive inspec. photos

[johnwm73]

During my hive inspection I was looking for new comb being built. While looking I was keeping an eye out for the queen. Got a few pictures of her but not a whole body picture. She has laid a few frames of brood. They are pretty solid so I should have a good foraging force soon. I have had my two 5 frame nucs for 10 days and they look like they are doing well. Not taking much if any syrup. It has been warm here though. Mostlyt getting up to 70 to 80 during the days and around 50 at night. Should I leave the syrup on until later in the summer or go ahead and take it off? I have seen red,yellow and orange pollen coming in. I didn't see much stored up though so I assume they are using it for food to feed to the brood. If you look at the top of the frame you will see the back of the queen's body. She is hiding her head.

[Brian D. Bray]

If they are established nucs being transfered to full sized boxes and not taking much of the syrup, why feed?  The purpose of feeding a package or swarm is to give them access to a nectar substitute to enable them to draw comb, hence lay eggs etc, quicker than they would naturally.  A nuc already has that so feeding a nuc is really not necessary.  Also, during even a moderate flow the bees would rather forage for natural nectars than take a handout from the beekeeper.  Stop feeding and let them be bees.