Please clarify- package feed question

[DaveKow]

In all of your opinions, I have 2 hives one is taking feed and the other is not.  They have about the same forager numbers going to and fro.  I am worried that the hive taking feed is overstoring.  Does this happen?  Should I just let them forage?  Hives were packaged May 6.

[sc-bee]

Yes, you can nectar bound the queen by over feeding. If all the comb is already drawn check and see if they are filling everything w/ feed. Make sure the Queen has space to lay in. Also if you have a flow going on they often prefer it over the feed you are suppling. This may account for one hive taking on more feed than the other.

[DaveKow]

They were installed on foundation.

Also, will capped brood still be tan color when capped on new foundation?  I was in the hive yesterday and thought they were capped brood, but the math doesn't quite add up.  She would have to have laid them the very next day.  

How long should I wait to have another look?  I notice that I miss so much when I am in the hive.  I always want to go right back in.  I guess its all part of being a rookie.

Thanks,
Dave

[JP]

In all of your opinions, I have 2 hives one is taking feed and the other is not.  They have about the same forager numbers going to and fro.  I am worried that the hive taking feed is overstoring.  Does this happen?  Should I just let them forage?  Hives were packaged May 6.

Dave, how many frames have been fully drawn out on the colony that's taking feed? You can over feed yes, but its only been 10 days since you installed them. You need to offer a package install or a swarm feed at first to allow them the resources to build comb or they will starve. The idea is to let them build up until you can take the training wheels off.


...JP

[DaveKow]

I would say that there are maybe 2-3 fully drawn frames.  I think I saw eggs and larva, but those cells sure are a lot smaller in person.  I have only seen pictures.  Both queens were spotted, so I made the assumption that all was well.  Only to doubt that assumption later.  I saw what I thought was burr comb in the middle of a frame, only to think that it was a supercedure cell later.  On one frame I saw 6 capped cells in the middle of a frame.  They looked like brood caps, but they were white.  I guess pictures would have helped.

I am hoping that I am just doing the "rookie freak out" thing. 

Thanks.
 

[JP]

You can keep feeding them until they don't take feed. The colony is still way young. Add another box after 8 of 10 frames are drawn, and stop the feeding then. They may stop feeding on their own before then, but offer the feed to them. If they're packing way more sugar/honey than brood back off some.


...JP