Robbing for how long

[Markthebuilder]

Yesterday morning I gave a nuc in front garden some syrup ,
By lunchtime it was being robbed mercilessly by bees from a hive in the back garden,

Despite heavy rain it was dark befor robbers all when home and I was able to move nuc to another location around the side of the house (it’s a big house) I also faced it in the opposite direction and close to a bush and wall so any foragers will reorientate

today noon there are still lots of bees arriving at the original nuc location looking for an easy feed.
And jugeing by the bee activity around the nuc I’m not convinced the move has been sucsesfull

 

[Ian123]

By moving you’ve also removed the older flyers and guard bees. It’s done though remove syrup close down to tiny entrance .

 

[Nige.Coll]

If you move a nuc that is being robbed the bees will search for it.
The only way to stop them searching is to put another nuc in its place with a small amount of food in for them to rob. Once the food is gone they assume the food there is exhausted and won't search for the weaker colony.
If the nuc is really short on food then you can feed it but close the entrance completely. It will be fine in the shade for a few days if not too crowded.
Fondant is less likely to cause robbing than syrup.
Take other precautions like feeding at night and not early in the day when scouts are most active.

 

[oliver90owner]

Perhaps you may have learned the lesson of when to feed - do it in the evening after the bees have stopped flying

 

[pargyle]

If you move a nuc that is being robbed the bees will search for it.
The only way to stop them searching is to put another nuc in its place with a small amount of food in for them to rob. Once the food is gone they assume the food there is exhausted and won't search for the weaker hive.

Even a cardboard box in the original site with a bit of old comb inside filled with syrup is enough to fool them once they have robbed it out. A small hole for an entrance to the cardboard box...24 hours they usually lose interest. But if you move the original nuc you must move it at night and close then up for a few hours or the flyers will return to the original site...3 feet or 3 mile rule usually but I've got away with putting the nuc in the apiary sitting on top of a strong hive with the entrance facing the opposite way to the hive it is on top of... you need to track which hive is doing the robbing and not choose that one as the one ti site the nuc in top of !

 

[beebob]

Perhaps you may have learned the lesson of when to feed - do it in the evening after the bees have stopped flying

Lesson learnt

 

[beebob]

I have similar situation. 1 strong hive robbing 1 nuc and 1 hive.

Anyway, how's this for a plan. Wait till late, close them up for the next day (it's to rain tomorrow anyway). Replace original location with box with abit of food. In theory robbing bees will rob out the food, think that's it, and loose interest. Then move nucs back on Wednesday? Or leave it till Thursday?

Thanks for the sage guidance. In need the help.

 

[Markthebuilder]

By moving you’ve also removed the older flyers and guard bees. It’s done though remove syrup close down to tiny entrance .

Hopefully the fact I waited untill after dark to move it ment all flyers were home but take your point about removeing syrup and closing down next time

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hopefully the fact I waited untill after dark to move it ment all flyers were home

but unless you moved them three miles away, would return to the old location the next day

 

[Erichalfbee]

Oliver and Ian are no longer here. I feel like I’m in a parallel universe

 

[North End Bees]

Oliver and Ian are no longer here. I feel like I’m in a parallel universe

No longer here but hopefully still 'here'.

I really miss their contributions.
I lingered in the background for a long time before actually joining the forum, mainly because of Rab's reliably caustic comments. But you know everything he said was actually true, if just a little blunt!
And more recently he mellowed a LOT.

Ian too always had really constructive advice. There are some people on here whose comments have been, and still are, super helpful to a lot of people. :)

 

[Erichalfbee]

No longer here but hopefully still 'here'.

Yes I’m sure they are. Hope so.
RAB had his reasons but Ian disappeared in a puff of smoke. I do miss them both too.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Yes I’m sure they are. Hope so.
RAB had his reasons but Ian disappeared in a puff of smoke. I do miss them both too.

RAB gave excellent advice. I'm sorry he doesn't post here now. It did get wearying when others who know far less but were legends in their own minds fired potshots from afar.