Bees breaking down sealed Queen Cells

[mjt68]

. If the bees stay put we will feed them in a couple of days./QUOTE]

Why feed? Lots in bloom and very favourable weather. Unnecessary feeding causes more problems than it solves - they may draw a bit more foundation but they could also become syrup bound.

 

[PurleyRoyal]

. If the bees stay put we will feed them in a couple of days./QUOTE]

Why feed? Lots in bloom and very favourable weather. Unnecessary feeding causes more problems than it solves - they may draw a bit more foundation but they could also become syrup bound.

As a newbie one of the problems I find is if you ask beekeepers questions you very rarely get the same answer twice. My mentor suggested feeding them a limited amount "to give them an initial helping hand" as they have no reserves to fall back on.

 

[colinc]

1 question 3 beekeepers 5 answers.

If there is a flow on and they have foragers you may find in good weather they may not take feed anyway but syrup does take up a lot of space and mixes with and affects your honey crop.
If they have foragers and young bees they will draw comb, it's what they do.


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[Gilberdyke John]

As a newbie one of the problems I find is if you ask beekeepers questions you very rarely get the same answer twice. My mentor suggested feeding them a limited amount "to give them an initial helping hand" as they have no reserves to fall back on.

It's a judgement call which someone close by is in a better position to make than someone miles away. I'd err on the side of safety and give them a limited amount, say two litres of thin (1:1) syrup. The problem with boost feeding by newbies is they often don't know when to stop.

 

[PurleyRoyal]

It's a judgement call which someone close by is in a better position to make than someone miles away. I'd err on the side of safety and give them a limited amount, say two litres of thin (1:1) syrup. The problem with boost feeding by newbies is they often don't know when to stop.

Thank you - our mentor has suggested 3 litres absolute maximum; watch the bees and judge it on that.

 

[bjosephd]

I am currently at a post feed conundrum, particularly as I out 'hive alive' additive in.

One was a slightly limping hive with chalk brood, so the hive alive was a must. Seems to have really boosted them.

The other was a flightless half of a split so no foragers and were starving and angry about it.

Both took the feed down VERY quickly. (3 litres each in 1 litre doses)

I'm now wondering what to do if those two hives bring in a good harvest... will the syrup end up tainting potential honey?

A 3rd hive I tried to feed (another split) had no interest in the feed at ALL... so took it off. Which tells me that the others definitely needed it.

 

[Angularity]

My feeling (based on very little experience) is that if you feed them, you don't take any honey that year. They are desperate and need something to help them survive, so there won't be much spare for you to take in any case, and what there is may well be converted sugar, rather than nectar.

Shrug your shoulders and congratulate yourself on saving your colonies, rather than focussing on the lack of honey harvest.

 

[mjt68]

It's a judgement call which someone close by is in a better position to make than someone miles away. I'd err on the side of safety and give them a limited amount, say two litres of thin (1:1) syrup. The problem with boost feeding by newbies is they often don't know when to stop.

Different philosophies then. I'd say that when in doubt, do nothing. Tricky in the first year but with a mentor (or the forum) to help, it shoudl be obvious when interventions are needed and I think its best to leave alone if interventions aren't needed.