should I feed?

[rgy]

Reading on these other threads about feeding a weak hive so here is my story.  I had two terrible nuc's so I requeened one two weeks ago and moved it out to the location of the other weak hive.  actually put it in the 2nd hives place and moved the 2nd one over a foot or two to get any foragers in the requeened one.  Two days later combined with the newspaper method.  Have not been back since that was done on wed the 11th of aug.

This combo hive is one foot away from my great hive with two supers of honey going. 

Question:  if I feed the combo hive will the good hive just rob the sugar water and ruin my honey?  I use top feeders but the combo hive is just SO WEAK I don't see them being able to defend themselves, actually I don't think they are going to make it through winter.

Also when should I start harvesting?  we should get the golden rod going before long.  I'm southwest michigan on lake michigan.  42.4 parellel.

[VolunteerK9]

Speaking from experience, the stronger hive will rob the snot out of your nuc. As far as harvesting, I think you should do it now, before the goldenrod comes in. You could pull a honey frame out of your strong hive for your nuc-seems to me that robbing isnt as strong with capped honey as it is with placing syrup on hive.

[Kathyp]

reduce the entrance down to the smallest size and use a jar feeder on top of the inner cover.  watch for robbing.  if you have a piece of plywood or = put it between the hives.  that seems to help sometimes.