When I get my packages

[JackM]

Of course the season will have begun by then.  (Aprilish) I wonder in addition to syrup should they get pollen patties to help buildup in the beginning? (short term, maybe first month)

Or will that prevent them from foraging?  I still have no exact date, but even if I did, I don't know for sure what will be out there for them until the blackberries bloom in June.  Fruit trees and garden flowers mostly....city environment.  I am pretty sure the maples and filberts will be all done by the time I get my packages.

[L Daxon]

Like plant nectar is always better than sugar syrup, fresh pollen is always better than pollen patties.
That being said, if there is a shortage of either nectar or pollen, it is probably good to feed, especially when trying to get a new package going.  Putting a pollen patty on won't necessarily hurt (except the hive beetles may go to town on it).  If the girls don't need it, they won't eat it.

I would think by April there would be plenty of natural pollen available.  I was shocked yesterday to see how much pollen my girls were bringing in.  It was about 65 degrees and I'd say 3 out of every 5 foragers coming back to the hive (and traffic was pretty heavy) were coming in loaded with bright yellow pollen.

[Kathyp]

jack, by april the dandelions will be out and a good many trees will still be producing pollen.  it would probably be a waste of money at that time of the year.  you may want to consider adding it to your budget for late winter next year....and if we have a very dry summer you might want to do it once in the early fall (september-octoberish) for the last brood before winter. 

you will want to give them syrup when you first hive them. to much rain and lack of lots of nectar producing plants that early.   think about how you are going to feed. 

[JackM]

Syrup in feeders inside the top of the hive.  Well that is my plan anyhow.  Put a super on to give space for the feeder.  Will a butter tub work if you put a small screen on the top for a place to eat when flipped over?????  Course then you can't see what is inside either....decisions, decisions.

Oh and thanks Kathy

[Robo]

Will a butter tub work if you put a small screen on the top for a place to eat when flipped over?????  Course then you can't see what is inside either....decisions, decisions.

Don't risk drowning your bees with a unproven feeder.   I would strongly recommend inverted mason jar over the inner cover hole.

[T Beek]

Syrup feeders;  Lots of choices for do-it-yourselfers who don't want to purchase the usual insertable types or top feeders.  

Jars w/ a few small holes in the lids, 'un' used paint cans, both have various sizes available, chicken feeders are relatively cheap and can be placed inside a super above inner covers too.  

Open feeding is also an option when absolutely necessary and at specific times of the year. I place open feeders at least 100yards from the beeyard every Fall, beginning after frost has killed of all forage and again in the Spring before anything begins blooming.  The only rule of thumb is a daytime temp of 60 and no available forage.

thomas

[AliciaH]

Jack, the nice thing about the feeder that Robo is showing is that you can drill more than one hole in it.  Works well for bees going through the syrup fast, also good if you're leaving for a couple days and are worried that they might run out.  If I don't need the extra hole, I put an empty lid in it to block the bees from getting out.

I second Kathy on the dandelion bloom!  Gives you a great excuse not to mow!  Drives my husband crazy when I tell him, "Nooooo, you're cutting down their food!"  Eventually I have to give up, but he's pretty good at waiting until there's more out there blooming.

[Kathyp]

mine were flying yesterday and bringing in filbert pollen.  i have put off patties until the weather changes back to rain.  at the rate they are bringing it in, i may not need to substitute at all.  of course, the wind is whipping today so i don't know how much they'll get out or gather.

[JackM]

Well here in Windy Washougal, the wind hasnt' quit in 3 days.  The filberts are not showing here yet.  Usually the first I see is the fruitless plums coming on.

Yes I have been saving jars to use.  I never considered a chicken feeder....would have to put little ramps in to prevent drowning tho  4

Crud I just want spring and summer.  Sick of winter, seems like last winter never stopped, just had a pause.  I bet we have a drought this summer.

[buzzbee]

If you put some gravel in the bottom of the feeder after inverting it they will have something to stand on.
Quail feeders are a little smaller,but I have had bees crawl inside the jugs after they were empty and not get back out. I used the inverted jars a lot more last year. If you have boardman feeders you can put large jars on them and set up a feed station away from the hives.

[SEEYA]

This screwy weather has me worried, what do you feed a package when it is too cold for syrup?

[buzzbee]

Ray,
Do you have a package arrival date?


When my son got his first package,even on bare foundation,they used a syrup jar inside the hive to feed. They surrounded the empty space with crumpled newspaper to maintain heat. The temps went down in the 20s the third week of March and they survived just fine.
I can see where baggie feeders would probably work better as you can lay them right over the cluster to maintain some heat.

[T Beek]

Dry sugar lightly dampened placed right on the inner cover, inside another super when its too cold for syrup.  Its what my bees are eating right now.

thomas

[mikecva]

For small feeders inside an empty bow for new packages, I have used things from Tupperware (and I got told never to again) to the small clean up pails they give at our hospital to patents. The important thing is to float some small thin pieces of wood in the water for the bees to land on.  -Mike

[Kathyp]

if you use a chicken feeder screen the opening!!!!!!  the bees will get in there and you will have a jar full of dead bees.  some window screen glued on with guerrilla glue is simple and works well.  put some gravel in the dish and you are good to go.  it's a great way to do open feeding in the spring but not good later in the year when open feeding will attract yellowjackets.

i use jars.  they are simple and easy to come by.  quart are fine.  you just have to refill them more often.  sometimes the weight will bow the inner cover if you put the jar over the opening.  a couple of sticks under the cover on either side of the hole solves that problem.

[rober]

feed stores sell plastic bases that when combined with mason jars ( any size ) are used as chicken warerers that are also inexpensive. add gravel or marbles to prevent drowning & put the feeder in an empty super.    because of their small size you can use more than one.

[SEEYA]

>>Do you have a package arrival date?
I am picking up two packages of Carnies, sometime in mid-April. They are being trucked in from California.