To late to rebuild?

Fishing-Nut · July 29, 2019, 02:16:02 PM

Did a cutout yesterday, caught the queen and came home with lots of bees. I am feeding the bees right now. Do you think these bees have time to rebuild before winter? I'm in Georgia. We wear shorts all through October 😁

BeeMaster2 · July 29, 2019, 02:31:19 PM

If there is enough nectar is available or you feed them, they have enough time here in the south. I?m going into a drought but I?m feeding my observation hive and a really small, 2 frame hive. The observation hive is exploding. I have not checked the other hive yet.
Jim Altmiller

cao · July 29, 2019, 07:26:56 PM

Each of the last two years I had a swarm take up residence in some extra equipment in mid August. They almost made it through winter without any help(feed). So I would say that your cutout should do fine with a little TLC.

Ben Framed · July 29, 2019, 09:29:31 PM

The above statements are good ones. Feeding is a good idea, pollen is necessary also for building brood. You didn?t say if you were able to save a lot of brood. If not, you can place a couple frames of mostly capped brood, to give them a helping hand. Let us know how this works out for you.
Phillip

Acebird · July 30, 2019, 08:47:53 AM

Fishing-Nut you will give us an update next spring on how well it goes?

Fishing-Nut · July 30, 2019, 10:47:12 AM

Absolutely. I'll keep yall posted....I'm keeping feed out for now. I'll post updates the rest of the summer. I wasnt able to get lots of brood as it looked like the bees had recently swarmed but there is definitely a laying queen in the hive. I had some usable drawn comb here at the house that I put on them. Theres hardly any pollen coming in so I'm thinking about making some pollen substitute or ordering some. What would you guys recommend?

BeeMaster2 · July 30, 2019, 11:14:02 AM

I would go out in the morning and watch the bees. I?ll bet they are bringing in pollen in the morning.
Unless you were in a drought, which I?m pretty sure your not, there is probably pollen coming in.
Jim Altmiller

Fishing-Nut · July 30, 2019, 01:28:12 PM

I go and sit with them pretty often. Including this morning. About one bee every 2 or 3 minutes is coming in with pollen. And it's not a full load either.. Just little small balls of it.

Ben Framed · July 30, 2019, 03:28:36 PM

Quote from: Fishing-Nut on July 30, 2019, 01:28:12 PM
I go and sit with them pretty often. Including this morning. About one bee every 2 or 3 minutes is coming in with pollen. And it's not a full load either.. Just little small balls of it.

In that case, being you have ask what we would recommend, I for one would recommend Ultra Bee Pollen Substitute. If SHB are in your area use as a open feed. If not make into a patty. This along with a steady supply of sugar syrup and you should have brood building up in no time. Provided the queen is there and healthy.