Feeding Question

[Lew Best]

Hey guys

Got 2 removals (one yesterday; one today) that I feel I need to feed.

Here in central Texas there's no wild flowers to speak of & the colonies contained brood (less than expected; especially the large colony) pollen, & lotsa empty comb but very little honey or nectar.

Here's pix of the colonies; outside one was huge; bout 3 feet long!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/lewbest/5393d5e1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/lewbest/628d3d49.jpg

Anyway, questions are should I feed 2 water to one sugar, one to one or one water to 2 sugar to help them draw out the foundation? Another option would bee to tie some of the empty comb in instead of the 5.1 wired I gave them.

Any suggestions appreciated!!!!!!

Lew

[Chef Isaac]

Feed one part water to one part sugar

[tecumseh]

nice pictures lew. this year I have retrieved a few hives and their only chance for survival is to feed at least occasionally. very little nectar flow here also, down right depressing. like isaac I would suggest one to one.

good luck...

[SantaCruzBee]

Very cool pics!

[Lew Best]

thanks guys

Actually I posted the wrong pic of the big (outdoor) one; that was a month ago. If you can make out that electric wire coming out of the eve it was covered when I got these. Here's the "more current" shot taken just before I cut them down.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/lewbest/ham0501sm2.jpg

Lost count but there were about 12-15 combs.

Lew

[iddee]

I'm jealous... smile.gif

[Michael Bush]

>Anyway, questions are should I feed 2 water to one sugar, one to one or one water to 2 sugar to help them draw out the foundation?

It really doesn't matter. But the 2:1 will keep better.

> Another option would bee to tie some of the empty comb in instead of the 5.1 wired I gave them.

I like that. Natural drawn comb is great, from my point of view.