Emergency feeding

[Hivetool2021]

Hi all

I recently hives 2 nucs, and due to expansion I put a super of foundation on last weekend which they are drawing well.

Inoectibg today, noticed they haven't much stores, and given the current weather I'm concerned about starvation, can u feed 1.1 with the super of foundation on

Any tips would be welcome

 

[B+.]

Hi all

I recently hives 2 nucs, and due to expansion I put a super of foundation on last weekend which they are drawing well.

Inoectibg today, noticed they haven't much stores, and given the current weather I'm concerned about starvation, can u feed 1.1 with the super of foundation on

Any tips would be welcome

Unless they have absolutely nothing, I would leave them alone - have patience! If they have nothing at all, remove the super and let them store a little in the brood nest - but, be very careful that they don't clog it with honey so the queen can't lay. If they have one frame of open stores, they have enough.

 

[Earthboy]

Hi all

I recently hives 2 nucs, and due to expansion I put a super of foundation on last weekend which they are drawing well.

Inoectibg today, noticed they haven't much stores, and given the current weather I'm concerned about starvation, can u feed 1.1 with the super of foundation on

Any tips would be welcome

It depends on your nectar flow in the year and your desired outcome from your nucs: expansion or a honey crop. If you are in the flow, you may not need to feed. At times, even during the flow, there can be a lull, which happens in my area during blackberry bloom, which might necessitate some feeding. Similarly, you do not want to contaminate your honey crop if you are in the flow, especially since you have supers on.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Hi all

I recently hives 2 nucs, and due to expansion I put a super of foundation on last weekend which they are drawing well.

Inoectibg today, noticed they haven't much stores, and given the current weather I'm concerned about starvation, can u feed 1.1 with the super of foundation on

Any tips would be welcome

I presume they have drawn and filled the brood box? I would take the super off and feed if needed but little and often till forage is available.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It depends on your nectar flow in the year and your desired outcome from your nucs: expansion or a honey crop. If you are in the flow, you may not need to feed. At times, even during the flow, there can be a lull, which happens in my area during blackberry bloom, which might necessitate some feeding. Similarly, you do not want to contaminate your honey crop if you are in the flow, especially since you have supers on.

We have rubbish weather through the whole of the U.K. and bees are not getting out

 

[Earthboy]

We are getting rain nearly every day; therefore, the alfalfa fields, now starting to bloom, cannot be baled. So I moved all my colonies there, and rain is still in the forecast for next two weeks. Granted the rain does not wash out pr wash down the nectar, they can fill the ten-frame foundation in ten days, they say. So the rubbish weather is not always a bad thing.

 

[Earthboy]

We are getting rain nearly every day; therefore, the alfalfa fields, now starting to bloom, cannot be baled. So I moved all my colonies there, and rain is still in the forecast for next two weeks. Granted the rain does not wash out or wash down the nectar, they can fill the ten-frame foundation in ten days, they say. So the rubbish weather is not always a bad thing.

Dani, Can you delete this accidental double post please? Thanks!

 

[Erichalfbee]

We are getting rain nearly every day; therefore, the alfalfa fields, now starting to bloom, cannot be baled. So I moved all my colonies there, and rain is still in the forecast for next two weeks. Granted the rain does not wash out pr wash down the nectar, they can fill the ten-frame foundation in ten days, they say. So the rubbish weather is not always a bad thing.

If course not but it depends on the forage. There is a noticeable June gap often in the U.K. and if May is rubbish which it has been there is a two month dearth. Queens have taken a break and build up has been interrupted. Colonies are still making swarm preps when they are not at their best.
Rain will be good for clover if it warms up.

 

[user 819]

It's been said remove the super and shake all bees in to the BB, give some 1:1 syrup only a couple of pints or fondant on the top bars.
I have had to feed three of my colonies due to poor foraging as have many other have mentioned on the forum.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I've been out today to put fondant on all my nucs, swarms and several full hives as some had no stores at all. Hopefully that will keep them going until the middle of next week when we are promised some half decent weather!

 

[Curly green finger's]

I've been out today to put fondant on all my nucs, swarms and several full hives as some had no stores at all. Hopefully that will keep them going until the middle of next week when we are promised some half decent weather!

Week two: 22 colonys. 1 - 2 litres every 3-5 days
I started another 14 colonys today I will feed untill the weather changes.

 

[Monbees]

Week two: 22 colonys. 1 - 2 litres every 3-5 days
I started another 14 colonys today I will feed untill the weather changes.

Goodness, local honey should be £20 1lb this year! My main crop is spring honey and there is literally none this year. I shall be glad just to keep my three hives alive; good luck to you Curly with all those colonies. What a year to become a beefarmer!

 

[The Poot]

Week two: 22 colonys. 1 - 2 litres every 3-5 days
I started another 14 colonys today I will feed untill the weather changes.

I too am feeding until the weather changes. Today, drones were being killed and evicted from one colony.
This is really sad to see...

 

[Swarm]

Oh, that's sad

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thatscsuc

I too am feeding until the weather changes. Today, drones were being killed and evicted from one colony.
This is really sad to see...

That’s such a sad sight.
Thankfully my drones are all at home, I’ve kept on top of the feeding but it could so easily have been the same.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I too am feeding until the weather changes. Today, drones were being killed and evicted from one colony.
This is really sad to see...

 

[Curly green finger's]

Goodness, local honey should be £20 1lb this year! My main crop is spring honey and there is literally none this year. I shall be glad just to keep my three hives alive; good luck to you Curly with all those colonies. What a year to become a beefarmer!

The spring isn't over yet.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The spring isn't over yet.

What’s left in your neck of the woods?

 

[jeff33]

That's terrible to see. 1 more day of bad weather for tomorrow and we have a descent forecast for the week ahead, not warm though. The hawthorn is about to reach its peak so hoping they can bank on it.

 

[pargyle]

We had heavy rain and intervals of incredible sunshine today ... it was warm enough for me to work up a sweat at the allotment digging over a section ready for the squash plants to go in. My bees were flying when it wasn't raining - very busy and making the most of it - then a mad rush to get back into the hive and within minutes it would cloud over and down came the rain. How do they know ?