View Full Version : How long to feed?
I have 3 3# Italian packages installed in 7 frames in deep supers on drawn comb. Installed them Monday evening. By Tuesday they had all almost emptied a quart jar of corn syrup.
Are they really eating this much or are they filling the comb?
Dandelions are starting to bloom, along with a couple of cherry trees. Red bud and peach coming right along. My question is how long do I continue to feed? The next super will be foundation and will need to be drawn.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sundance
04-19-2006, 08:20 AM
They are doing both. I keep feeding until they stop taking it or I know a really good flow is coming.
They will stop taking feed if they have nectar sources.
IMO leave the feed on as long as they take it. Building comb takes a bunch of sugar.
Sundance
04-19-2006, 08:24 AM
"The next super will be foundation and will need to be drawn."
Do you mean a second hive body?? If it is a second hive body I would suggest feeding in undrawn foundation between fully drawn comb. Move the drawn comb to second box. They seem to draw out foundation faster if it is between 2 drawn combs.
Better yet feed in small cell or starter strips to acheive small cell. You won't regret the move.
Craig W.
04-19-2006, 08:37 AM
Bruce is absolutely correct again! I took his advise on this with my first package this year and my bees are doing great.
I started my with starter strips of wax sc foundation on April 6 I now have 2 hive bodies with frames, starter strips in them both. I just bought 22 used hives for 100. bucks, I guess I'll be busy next deer season, lol. but any way some I will have to tear apart to build a hive but most are in very good shape, they have a strip of brass along the edge where the frames rest, they look old.
Ok this is all making good sense. 1 thing what is the advantage of the small cell?
BerkeyDavid
04-19-2006, 09:53 AM
Hi Ong
Small cell bees are more mite resistant, the cell is smaller so less room for the mite to get in there and feed on the larvae.
Where are you in Ohio?
Also I wonder why you only have 7 frames in there?
Sundance
04-19-2006, 10:19 AM
Missed that David. Are these 8 frame boxes?
The reason small cell works is based on emergance time mainly. Small cell bees emerge generally 24 hours earlier than large cell. They are also capped more quickly.
The combination of faster capping, and earlier emergance disrupts the life cycle of the Varroa mite. Thereby reducing the number of mites dramatically.
Many beekeeps on SC use no chemicals at all for mite control.
Why the 7 frames? I am trying the MB plan for starting a hive,(at least as I understand it) that is start them out in a smaller area and then go to 10 frames when they get the 7 frames full.
Where in Ohio? Holmes County,the Heart of Amish country. Draw a line from Columbus to Cleveland and we are about 1/2 way and a little west of the line.
Strange I know where Devils Lake ND is but don't know where Berkey Ohio is. LOL
Thanks for the heads up on the small cell.
Sundance
04-19-2006, 10:34 AM
Have you placed a division board in the 10 frame box?? It is important that you have.
Sundance
04-19-2006, 10:35 AM
If you don't have that division/follower board, get one in ASAP or get 10 frames in the box.
You will not like what happens!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
BerkeyDavid
04-19-2006, 10:45 AM
Ong
Yeah like Bruce said you will want to get the frames spaced out correctly or you will have trouble. I am not sure what MB's ideas are about that, I looked on his site but didn't see anything.
Berkey is about 10 miles west of Toledo just a mile south of the michigan state line.
Sundance
04-19-2006, 11:23 AM
Whew............
Michael Bush
04-19-2006, 01:47 PM
I'd fill the remainder anyway, just in case they get over there. Never leave empty space that doesn't have frames.
I'd fill the remainder anyway, just in case they get over there. Never leave empty space that doesn't have frames.
Good thinking, I'll do that tonight when I remove the (hopefully) empty queen cages.
I have a pollen cake to put on each hive, should I do that now or wait until I check back in a week to look for brood?
Michael Bush
04-19-2006, 02:44 PM
I'd save the pollen cake for next winter, but if you're going to do it, then do it while you have it open.
Mike Gillmore
04-19-2006, 07:37 PM
Hi ONG,
Welcome neighbor. I'm a little northeast of you in Stark County, Massillon.
I got 2 Minn Hygenic packages last year on April 16th. I had no drawn comb, just foundation to start with. I was feeding heavy right through May while they were building up. I added the second deep on May 31st. There were periods where they were going through 1 gal a week. Yours will be easier since they are starting on drawn comb.
Our flow will really kick in strong about the middle of May through June. There is abundant pollen available right now so feeding patties will probably be a waste of resources, unless we get a long stretch of rain where they cannot get out. They will most likely ignore the patties if they are able to collect pollen.
I just recently tried the empty frames for natural comb... its amazing. Give it a try.
Did you have a chance to make it to the Tri-County Beekeepers Workshop at the OARDC in Wooster?
Mike
Hi there neighbor, thanks for the local info. Yes I did indeed go to the OARDC quit an event! On the empty frames you didn't use starter strips?
As an update 2 of the hives had gone thru 3/4 of a quart of syrup while the other only 1/2. As I sat watching I nocticed a large number of bees coming into that hive from the same direction, sure enough they had found a big cherry tree in bloom.
As a further update I should have waited for one more day to check the queen cages. 1 had been released and the other 2 were almost out. I'll have to go in again today to pull the cages and get the frames in order.