Toots Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I picked up my nuc just over a week ago, transferred them and gave them a feeder full of light syrup. I have completed my first inspection on Sunday and the queen is laying like a trooper! I brood all the way from eggs to newly capped brood. They have drawn out 2 of the 6 foundation frames in the hive (i.e. the ones that didn’t come with the nuc). At the apiary meeting for my BKA I was told by 2 very experience keepers 2 different things, 1) that I should continue to feed until all the frames were drawn out and 2) to stop feeding when they had taken the a full feeders worth of syrup (2ltr I think) There was no real decision on which I should go for, any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macfoy Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Personally I think you should feed if they need it.......... So you need to keep one eye on the weather and the other eye on stores within the hive, fresh nectar glistens in the comb and when they have reduced it's moisture content they will cap it. My bees are bringing in lots of nectar at the moment and the weather is being kind. Your bees may not have a huge flying workforce yet so therefore feeding is necessary, but if there are lots flying and they are bringing in nectar then they probably won't bother with the feeder. I've found (not that I have years of experience.... ) that the bees will draw foundation out quick enough if they need to and they won't touch it regardless of the amount of syrup you offer them if they are not in the mood for it. I saw really my first true honey flow last year and the speed the foundation got drawn, filled and capped was impressive. Macfoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
