Feeding a late swarm

[Louisa1]

As a new beekeeper I had a swarm given to me in late June and put into my one and only new Lanstroth deep, introduced new queen and fed since almost daily with 1:1 syrup. Was told by my mentor at the time to keep feeding to encourage brood development and until bees no longer taking the syrup. Inspected 3 weeks ago, loads of nectar and pollen, very little brood. Today 7 frames Three quarters full of capped stores, some nectar and very little pollen but only 3 frames have brood in various stages. Should I continue to feed? Worried that in another 2 weeks the frames will be full of stores but not enough room for brood. Any advice much appreciated thank you.

 

[Millet]

As a new beekeeper I had a swarm given to me in late June and put into my one and only new Lanstroth deep, introduced new queen and fed since almost daily with 1:1 syrup. Was told by my mentor at the time to keep feeding to encourage brood development and until bees no longer taking the syrup. Inspected 3 weeks ago, loads of nectar and pollen, very little brood. Today 7 frames Three quarters full of capped stores, some nectar and very little pollen but only 3 frames have brood in various stages. Should I continue to feed? Worried that in another 2 weeks the frames will be full of stores but not enough room for brood. Any advice much appreciated thank you.

I am no expert but you have basically answered your own question in the last sentence, stop feeding them unless you live in the middle of the Sahara desert.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

As a new beekeeper I had a swarm given to me in late June and put into my one and only new Lanstroth deep, introduced new queen and fed since almost daily with 1:1 syrup. Was told by my mentor at the time to keep feeding to encourage brood development and until bees no longer taking the syrup. Inspected 3 weeks ago, loads of nectar and pollen, very little brood. Today 7 frames Three quarters full of capped stores, some nectar and very little pollen but only 3 frames have brood in various stages. Should I continue to feed? Worried that in another 2 weeks the frames will be full of stores but not enough room for brood. Any advice much appreciated thank you.

I think your mentor needs a firm and not too gentle slap around the head for giving that kind of advice. A few pints after three days to kick start them maybe but there would have been plenty of natural forage around at that time for them to fend for themselves. What is this obsession with constantly pouring syrup into colonies?!!
Too late now, but stop feeding them pronto,they have no room to brood,take out some of the capped stores and give them empty frames in their place.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Find a new mentor who understands beekeeping

 

[Millet]

I think your mentor needs a firm and not too gentle slap around the head for giving that kind of advice. A few pints after three days to kick start them maybe but there would have been plenty of natural forage around at that time for them to fend for themselves. What is this obsession with constantly pouring syrup into colonies?!!
Too late now, but stop feeding them pronto,they have no room to brood,take out some of the capped stores and give them empty frames in their place.

 

[Erichalfbee]

What is this obsession with constantly pouring syrup into colonies?!!

The internet, particularly on some US sites is full of this sort of advice. One of the most common is to feed to draw supers.

 

[madasafish]

If it was me , here, with drought from early June to Mid July, I would feed. Indeed I did. Because there was no food coming in.

But the OP is based in Devon where food is easy and weather is much more hospitable.And it takes great skill to lose colones due to lack of food in summer . Horses for course - and weather. But the mentor is a numpty.

 

[drex]

Good advice from Jbm in his usual straight to the point manner. We have had a few such posts from beginners, and this over feeding is done with good intentions I am sure.
However they need to realise that feeding is a fine balancing act. There is finite room in a bee box. It can hold stores or brood and there needs to be enough room in the hive for both. If a brood box is stores bound there is no room for queen to lay. Similarly best not to add another empty box until the ones already occupied are getting to nearly full - we have had a few posts about supering too early. In fact most of beekeeping is about walking that fine dividing line. Having said all that I think I was guilty of all the above in my early days.

 

[Louisa1]

Yes common sense told me it wasn't necessary to feed this long but as a newbie its difficult to trust ones own judgement! That's why this forum's support/advice is invaluable, thanks everyone! Feeding stopped as of today!