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  • From: James Latimer <pipesnc AT live.com>
  • To: Meredith Friedrick <friema16 AT gmail.com>, Orange County Bees <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Feeding while nectar flow is on
  • Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:31:17 -0400

Meredith,
Before answering your question, I have a suggestion.  You may want to save your money on the pkg bees and split your (survivor stock) hive that you just overwintered.  It is most likely preparing to swarm.  Based on the math you should have about 9 weeks of bees in your hive, given 21 days for a worker + 4-6 weeks of life.  That means the workers that will be foraging in June are already in your hive.  The honey flow usually end near the beginning of June as things tend to dry up.

I usually try to make the split as a simulated swarm.  Just take the frame the queen is on, place it in a new box along with a frame of capped brood, uncapped brood and a frame with pollen (bee bread) and nectar (not necessarily capped honey).  Leave any frames with swarm cells already on them in the original hive. DO NOT DESTROY THEM.  The new hive with the queen should be moved to another apiary or as far away from the original hive as possible. 

*Your Answer, I also feed this hive and any hives I started this season, until they are at a goal weight of about 40-50 lbs (lift hives from bottom).  This means feeding when they are light at any time until the hive is going to be used to produce honey.  Honey collected in the fall I leave on for overwintering.

That said, if you are collecting honey this season you do not want to feed that hive.  But a new package, nuc or split should be feed and monitored to keep a goal weight of 40-50 lbs.  I like to feel close to 75 lbs going into winter.

Keep on Keeping on,
Jamie


Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:57:57 -0400
From: friema16 AT gmail.com
To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [ocba] Feeding while nectar flow is on

I'm starting my second year as a beek, and I will be getting my second package of bees late this week (my first hive made it through winter and is doing well now).  Last year my package came earlier in the spring, so I fed them until the nectar flow started.  Since my new package of bees will be unfamiliar with where the tulip poplars are as yet, and will need to build up the hive, should I feed them for a short while?  I know someone said that to feed bees while the flow is on is "just rude".  I want to be sure they get a good start...

To feed or not to feed?

Meredith Friedrick

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