Do I stop feeding???

[Budster]

I have been feeding my bees for a week and a half, which they definatly enjoy. I am concearned that they are not out foraging for other natural stuff. I would rather they store honey and not sugar water. Is it possible we (Ohio) is in a dearth, and when the fall flow starts, they will have less interest in the sugar water and start working the local pollen and nectar sources? Should I keep feeding, or will they stop taking sugar water when there are other things available? I'm not sure what to do here???

[ScadsOBees]

How is the hive doing? Have they drawn out the second brood box yet?

You can feed until they get the second brood box drawn. They will take feed pretty much as long as you offer it, even through nectar flows.

-rick

[Mitch]

I agree with rick you need to get them into 2 deeps and then you can stop feeding.

The bees will forage what ever is blooming in your area even if you are feeding.I stop feeding when the 2nd deep is well on its way.And if the timeing is right and there is a good flow on i do not feed at all for the 2nd deep.

You are about 2 hours south of me i am sure you have something blooming.There is no dearth here,the flow is a bit slow bit steady.I have white dutch clover,thistles of several kinds and white sweet clover oh yes and soy beans and alfelfa now.The problem here is the rain every few days not just a gental rain but gully washers not good.

[GaSteve]

>You can feed until they get the second brood box drawn.

Keep an eye on them though. I kept pouring the feed to one hive to get them to draw out a second box and fill it with brood for a later split. Instead, they drew out the comb, packed it end to end with syrup -- then swarmed.

As has been stated on this board several times, you can feed too much.