Feeding

[Wildflower 123]

Hi. I have been offered a swarm, and am wondering if I should give them syrup. The chap giving me them has had them a week. He says the queen is laying.

 

[Wilco]

They're probably ok without but if you do give it, go little and often so they don't clog all the freshly drawn comb with it, which would stop the queen laying.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Hi. I have been offered a swarm, and am wondering if I should give them syrup. The chap giving me them has had them a week. He says the queen is laying.

Have a look inside to see what's what. If they have stores on the frames then no. If they haven't and there are still frames to draw then yes a little might be a good idea. Don't just feed without looking in

 

[BernardBlack]

I learnt it’s better to wait a couple of days before feeding a swarm.

But now that I think about it... I forget why that is

 

[Swarm]

It applies to swarms of unknown provenance, to make sure they use the stores they carry to draw wax.