To feed or not to feed..

[BenLatimer]

Hi all

So.. 1 week in with nuc (placed in national hive)

6 frames from the purchased nuc and 5 frames surrounding to be drawn out

I was told and understood that feeding them would enable the bees to draw out the wax. But on 1st inspection they seem to have good capped brood and good stores (I guess in part because of feeding) but no eggs and only old larvae and haven't drawn out any of the wax apart from a very small amount. The queen was seen but can't blame her for not laying eggs when there isn't any space.. I don't have any drawn out frames to put in so....

Do I carry on feeding as instructed or stop for a while???

 

[Swarm]

Try moving the foundation they have started drawing, placing them between the brood and the stores. Leave the feed on for now.

 

[drex]

I would also take out the 3 redundant frames of foundation, dummy down and only add more once they have drawn out most of the two frames as above. Putting foundation next to brood is quickest way of getting it drawn.

 

[BenLatimer]

Thanks for advice, what down "dummy down" mean?

 

[wightbees]

Use a dummy board to close the space

 

[alfazer]

Can depend on how you made your feed. Thin syrup helps the draw wax quicker. Thick syrup, as used in the autumn, gets stored.

I use one 1kg bag of sugar to 2 pints of water to make thin syrup.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I am not convinced that a dummy board is of a great deal of use in these situations - if you don't have one don't worry.
How big was the nuc? i.e. how many frames of brood did it have and how many of stores? If it had expanded rapidly in a polystyrene box and has now been placed in a less-insulated one, it may take a few days to adjust before getting going.

 

[Swarm]

I am not convinced that a dummy board is of a great deal of use in these situations - if you don't have one don't worry.

Agreed, which is why I didn't mention one, after all it is Summer. The bees will be ok in a full hive but putting foundation between brood and stores is the quickest way to get it drawn

 

[drex]

As is getting them to concentrate on just the two at a time.

 

[BenLatimer]

Trying the frame next to brood and seems to be working a treat, thanks for advice!

 

[BenLatimer]

Try moving the foundation they have started drawing, placing them between the brood and the stores. Leave the feed on for now.

This has worked really well they've drawn out this middle frame completely and the queen is resident on it! I'm still feeding, should I give them a bit of a break? They have about 2.5 frames of stores and about 3.5 frames of brood..

 

[Erichalfbee]

This has worked really well they've drawn out this middle frame completely and the queen is resident on it! I'm still feeding, should I give them a bit of a break? They have about 2.5 frames of stores and about 3.5 frames of brood..

I find a good rule of thumb while getting comb drawn is that as soon as even a few store cells are capped stop feeding

 

[BenLatimer]

I find a good rule of thumb while getting comb drawn is that as soon as even a few store cells are capped stop feeding

Best part of half a frame is capped.. so I should stop.. what do you think the significance of some being capped is?

 

[Swarm]

Once capped they are loathed to uncap it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Best part of half a frame is capped.. so I should stop.. what do you think the significance of some being capped is?

It's being stored for later which is not what you want at this time