1st inspection...bit surprised

[MrPea]

Went through both hives today, although they've all woken up from the winter incredibly grumpily, (never had them pinging off my veil so much), they've both got 5 frames of capped brood as well as uncapped...and veeeery little stores. Sensible move girls, make more bees when you've got no food!

Anyway...slightly surprised to see so many bees considering the March we've had, even more surprised to still see my white queen, that's two winters she's been through, tough lady!

I should probably feed them, but what's the right ratios to feed now? They have had a bit of fondant over the last few weeks, but not much else.

 

[Browntea]

im feeding 1.1 and its going down a treat!

 

[iand]

I should probably feed them, but what's the right ratios to feed now? They have had a bit of fondant over the last few weeks, but not much else.

Sounds like quite a bit of brood to feed, and then all those emerging bees later on in the next week or so. Get some 2:1 syrup on them (no stores so don't bother with 1:1). Colder for next weekend if not before.

 

[oliver90owner]

Bees will still need water to feed the brood if 2:1 is fed, so 1:1 is the norm in my book.

 

[eddiespangle]

I'm giving mine 1 to 1 and they're sucking it up.

Incidentally what's the consensus on calculating ratios. By weight or by volume? Volume is easier, no scales needed, by I always calculate using kitchen scales!

 

[beeno]

QUOTE=oliver90owner;321530]Bees will still need water to feed the brood if 2:1 is fed, so 1:1 is the norm in my book.[/QUOTE]

 

[Skyhook]

I'm giving mine 1 to 1 and they're sucking it up.

Incidentally what's the consensus on calculating ratios. By weight or by volume? Volume is easier, no scales needed, by I always calculate using kitchen scales!

Weight. No scales needed, 1 bag of sugar to 1 litre water. Simples.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Weight. No scales needed, 1 bag of sugar to 1 litre water. Simples.

Depends on the size of bag, I guess.

I buy sugar in 5k bags.

Dusty

 

[Skyhook]

Depends on the size of bag, I guess.

I buy sugar in 5k bags.

Dusty

There's always one who makes things complicated.

 

[Finman]

.
Bee get water from soil.
Bee need to worlk at once that they get rid of extra water.

I use 2:1 when I want to add stores.

 

[Finman]

Depends on the size of bag, I guess.

I buy sugar in 5k bags.

Dusty

Why?

 

[Luminos]

Depends on the size of bag, I guess.

I buy sugar in 5k bags.

Dusty

5 thousand bags??

 

[madasafish]

Nectar gathering here.. lots of willow pollen.
Stopped feeding, removed all fondant.

Pity about the weather.