New package foundationless question

[samuils]

Hi, just installed two new packages into foundationless box, it has guides on the top bars.  Now, another beekeeper tells me that I should have used foundation, and that without foundation it will not work, because the bees are not young.  So is he correct, should I have used foundation? Or is he just blowing hot air?  :?  Also,
1) when should they start building the comb? 
2) I am feeding them dry sugar on the top of the bars on the newspaper, do I stop feeding them or do they just go forage at some point and stop eating sugar?
Thank you

[Kathyp]

he's blowing hot air

they are building comb now

get the dry sugar out and use syrup 1:1 mix


i have no idea why he thinks the age of the bees have anything to do with it, or how he knows the age of your bees  ;)
you do need to keep an eye on them as they start building foundation.  most bees will do it right, right from the start.  some will mess it up and need some correction, or even a sheet or two of foundation to guide them.  make sure your frames are pushed tight together in the middle of each box.

[Michael Bush]

>Hi, just installed two new packages into foundationless box, it has guides on the top bars.  Now, another beekeeper tells me that I should have used foundation, and that without foundation it will not work, because the bees are not young.

With or without foundation they have to draw comb.  The "bees are not young" is not only not true, but not a valid argument.

>  So is he correct, should I have used foundation?

I wouldn't.

> Or is he just blowing hot air?

I'm sure he believes it.  But that does not make it true.

>  huh  Also,
>1) when should they start building the comb?

When they have a surplus of nectar/syrup coming in and they need somewhere to store it.

>2) I am feeding them dry sugar on the top of the bars on the newspaper, do I stop feeding them or do they just go forage at some point and stop eating sugar?

I would make some syrup if the weather is warm.  They will take that much better.  They pretty much only take the dry sugar as emergency food.