BeeFarmer
House Bee
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2013
- Messages
- 153
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Northamptonshire, England
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 4
Hello,
I was wondering if someone could offer me some advice.
A few months ago I aquired a colony but unfortunately do not know how well they went into autumn. I am therefore a little confused as to what I should now do regarding feeding. When I picked up the bees I was given some additional fondant for them which I subsequently placed on the hive and they took down. I've hefted the hive but given no previous reference point it's difficult to guess what is right and wrong. I'm sure this is something that will come with experience.
Given that the weather has improved and I noticed they were flying more and bringing in pollen I decided that this week I should not put fondant on the hive encase they started filling up the laying space. This leads me onto my question, to be on the side of caution should I continue with the fondant for another week or so or is the weather now warm enough to feed a light syrup for the next few weeks leading upto the fields around us being full of OSR?
As a side note it was 17 degrees on Sunday so I had a quick peek inside the hive. I noticed the pollen being packed away by some busy workers, some clear liquid stored away in the tops of the frames and some uncapped brood. This has satisfied me that the colony must be queen right although I didn't spend too long trying to spot her.
I know experience is everything but I'd hate to loose them right now and experience nothing.
I was wondering if someone could offer me some advice.
A few months ago I aquired a colony but unfortunately do not know how well they went into autumn. I am therefore a little confused as to what I should now do regarding feeding. When I picked up the bees I was given some additional fondant for them which I subsequently placed on the hive and they took down. I've hefted the hive but given no previous reference point it's difficult to guess what is right and wrong. I'm sure this is something that will come with experience.
Given that the weather has improved and I noticed they were flying more and bringing in pollen I decided that this week I should not put fondant on the hive encase they started filling up the laying space. This leads me onto my question, to be on the side of caution should I continue with the fondant for another week or so or is the weather now warm enough to feed a light syrup for the next few weeks leading upto the fields around us being full of OSR?
As a side note it was 17 degrees on Sunday so I had a quick peek inside the hive. I noticed the pollen being packed away by some busy workers, some clear liquid stored away in the tops of the frames and some uncapped brood. This has satisfied me that the colony must be queen right although I didn't spend too long trying to spot her.
I know experience is everything but I'd hate to loose them right now and experience nothing.