Okay of I feed just for fun

DayValleyDahlias · February 03, 2008, 05:01:15 PM

Would it be okay to put some syrup on, just in case they need it, it has been too cold to open the hive to check for honey...

Jerrymac · February 03, 2008, 05:18:37 PM

Have you tried lifting one side of hive to check for weight?

DayValleyDahlias · February 03, 2008, 06:31:48 PM

Yes I have, and I have no idea how much weight is how much...etc etc etc...Would it harm them to give them some syrup?

JP · February 03, 2008, 06:56:27 PM

What are you using mediums, deeps? How cold is it?

.....JP

DayValleyDahlias · February 03, 2008, 07:44:09 PM

They are in 2 deeps...it has been raining...low 50's during the daytime, low 40's some 30's at night

JP · February 03, 2008, 11:52:44 PM

Your temps aren't that cold. If you want to feed some heat your sugar water to 90 degrees and feed during the day.

.....JP

DayValleyDahlias · February 04, 2008, 11:37:46 AM

OOOOkay, I may ...we'll see what happens today!!

indypartridge · February 04, 2008, 12:20:20 PM

Quote from: Jerrymac on February 03, 2008, 05:18:37 PM
Have you tried lifting one side of hive to check for weight?

Thread drift:
I was taught to do that in the beginning beekeeping class I took a few years back. Then last summer, I went to a class where there were three identical hives (1 deep) in the front of the room. During a break, the instructor asked us to go down the line and estimate the weight of each. Most of us had estimates from 20 to 60 lbs from the lightest to the heaviest. What was interesting, is that we completely disagreed on which was the lightest or heaviest! Turns out all three weighed exactly the same! The only difference was the location of the concrete block inside the hive. The perceived weight was quite different depending on which side you lifted.

As for feeding, with temps in the 50's, I'd feed.

Kathyp · February 04, 2008, 12:51:22 PM

indy, it's not really off topic. in fact, i think it's an excellent point. lifting the boxes will probably tell you if you are really light and need to feed NOW, but if folks don't have experience with lifting things, it will not be a very useful tool for estimating the amount of food. your estimate of weight will be influenced by sticking bottom boards, etc.

women probably have a bigger problem with this. unless they are farm girls and sling hay and feed sacks, they don't usually lift heavy things. taking a few buckets or jugs and filling them with rocks, dirt, or water, to different levels can help you train your arms to recognize weights.

or....you can be lazy, as i am, and keep dry sugar on the inner cover :-)

DayValleyDahlias · February 04, 2008, 12:59:24 PM

dry sugar eh???

JP · February 04, 2008, 01:51:35 PM

Because your temps get up into the fifties and your lows aren't all that cold, you could open the top deep, this is what I would do and examine it. If its not that heavy, take it off and check the bottom deep for stores. If the top deep is pretty empty and your numbers are enough to where you could just remove the top deep, remove it. This way you don't have draft problems from the emptiness of the top deep.

.....JP

Kathyp · February 04, 2008, 04:21:31 PM

i would think that if your days are hitting the 50's, you can check. mine are flying at 45-50 degrees. of course, it's a bit colder up here. by the time we get in the 50's, i expect the queen will be doing her thing again.

another thing i'd check for, and more experienced can give better advice....but see what your queen is up to. you may want to consider putting on some pollen patties also.

dry sugar: i know that i will not be able to check or feed for most of the winter. last year, my hives were not in such good shape after the winter, even though it was a milder on. this year i decided to keep dry sugar on the inner cover. no only did they use it, but it also absorbed moisture which i think was a +. if you do not live in such a wet place and you use the dry sugar, i think you must dampen it with a spray of water so that it can be used. most call this emergency feeding. i figured it was a bit of insurance.

Brian D. Bray · February 04, 2008, 11:02:30 PM

Quotei would think that if your days are hitting the 50's, you can check. mine are flying at 45-50 degrees. of course, it's a bit colder up here. by the time we get in the 50's, i expect the queen will be doing her thing again.

Mine were flying today on a clear day and 39 F, not many but a few cleansing flights.

Cindi · February 05, 2008, 07:06:57 PM

Sharon, I liked what JP said. I think that you should really wait until the next day that you can get in to have a look to see if there are some honey stores. There probably are. Feeding sugar syrup, I don't know. I don't see any point to feeding that unless you know that they don't have honey, it is a tough call. Still, have a great, wonderful day, Cindi

Brian D. Bray · February 06, 2008, 06:43:51 PM

Rumaging around in the shed--you wouldn't believe how much stuff my Dad kept in their--I found a 50 lb spring scale (the kind fishermen use for bragging) and I figure if I install an eye hook on each hive I can get a pretty good idea of stores by using the scale. BTW--the shed had enough lumber (there's still more) in it to nearly build my 8X14 ft pigeon pen although I did have to buy 8 studs and metal roofing. It still contains enough lumber to build all the top entrances I'll need, the bottomless hive stands, and a few other things this spring.

Cindi · February 07, 2008, 09:50:37 AM

Brian, you have a shed full of great stuff, you are a lucky man, and the fact that you can build things makes you even more lucky, hee, hee. I wish I had that skill.

Right, about the fish scale, I have one of those (from my Dad's stuff too that he had in a shed out the back of our place). I think that would be an interesting thing to check weight. But elaborate a little more. The hook goes on the bottom of the box? You hold the scale yourself? I am horrible when it comes to picturing how things work. Have a great and best of this day, lovin' life. Cindi

Brian D. Bray · February 07, 2008, 09:21:51 PM

I was thinking more of a peavy or folcrum. An upright about 3 feet high with a level that swivels mounted horizonally with the scale hanging off the short end of the lever. Attach the hook on the scale into the eye hook on the hive and push the lever down. Lift the hive about 3-4 inches off the stand and multiply by 2 (have the weight is still on the hive stand).

Cindi · February 08, 2008, 09:17:05 AM

Brian, huh? OK you have lost me even deeper, but that is OK, I have a man that I live with, he is my Husband, hee, hee. I will tell him what you said and he will explain to me what you are talking about. I just don't get some of the most simplest of things, just the way my mind works. Think I have mentioned this strangeness before, maybe when we were talking about the 2X4 on the end of eggs getting ready for incubation to keep them turned. I couldn't get that picture either, but finally figured it out. Well, well, well.....have the most wonderful and greatest of this day, we be lovin' this life we live. Cindi

Brian D. Bray · February 08, 2008, 11:44:11 PM

That's okay Cindi, I understand. My wife is that way and city raised so I have to go to great lengths to explain things to her and re-explain, and re-explain, and finally, maybe, she gets it. By the way my sife is shorter than you--5 ft 1/2 inch. You two would be like sisters.

Jerrymac · February 09, 2008, 12:14:47 AM

My wife is 5' 0" and my mom is 4' 8" now. She use to be 4' 10". This is due to her scoliosis. Her back is shaped like an "S". I think she was suppose to be six inches taller.