Newbee with alot of Q`S !

[simpleman]

I am from Arkansas and I have been reading a few post and have been learning as I go. I bought A nuc of bees and got them transplanted safely in a brood house. And I believe that they have set up residence .
I really am green at this. so bear with me please..
How long should I wait until I can split the colony?
How long should I wait until I start adding supers for honey?
Is it alright to feed the bees in the spring or should I let them find there own?
We have 40 acre area with 10 of it clover , we have 50 young pears and 36 apple trees about 3 years old and a few acres of blackberries that are in bloom now.
I accept all imformation good or bad

[Michael Bush]

>How long should I wait until I can split the colony?

http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#earlysplit

>How long should I wait until I start adding supers for honey?

The general rule until you get two deeps (or equivelant mediums) of bees is that you add one box every time the last one is 80% full. If you don't see evidence of a flow, I might do the same so that the foundation (especially if it's wax) doesn't get chewed down. But once there is a flow you can pile them on.

>Is it alright to feed the bees in the spring or should I let them find there own?

It's always all right to feed them if they are light. If they don't have adequate resources they won't rear much brood. If there is a lot blooming it won't make that much difference.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm

[beewhisper]

Hi Simpleman!
I hope you enjoy beekeeping.I am unsure why you would want to split a nuc. It shouldn't take a nuc but a couple of weeks to fill a single brood chamber.
Good Luck
Beewhisper

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

"How long should I wait until I can split the colony?"
- A year, split it next year after winter and before the main flow, as soon as they're big enough.

"How long should I wait until I start adding supers for honey?"
- Once they've drawn out their brood chamber. I juse three meds or one deep and one med for a brood chamber. Chack with your local beeks, the amount of space you give them varies regionally.

"Is it alright to feed the bees in the spring or should I let them find there own?"
- Since their a nuc, feed them. If you add honey supers, feed them untill they draw out the wax than stop before they store the sugar water as honey.

"We have 40 acre area with 10 of it clover , we have 50 young pears and 36 apple trees about 3 years old and a few acres of blackberries that are in bloom now."
- You'll get a fantastic honey crop next year!

-Nathanael:cool:

[simpleman]

thanks guys this is great.
Right now my (lrg) box has 10 trays , and 7 are covered and they are starting to build on the last 3 trays. Instead of worring about honey I should just set a (med) on top and let them grow?
And next year split them?
When I split them do I split them in half or can I split them into 4 ?
Also the area that I live in has more wind than mostof the Arkansas region will this bee a factor? Do I leave them bordering the fields or move them down in a draw where there is less wind?
You must excuse me for not using the proper bee termanoliogy. This is a learning process.
I check on my bees every 2 weeks, Is that to often?
And why is it when a bee sings you in the back of the head hurt goes away quickly but the swelling stay with you for awhile:D
thanks again guys & gals
and beaches mine is spelled nathaniel

[Budster]

thanks guys this is great.
Right now my (lrg) box has 10 trays , and 7 are covered and they are starting to build on the last 3 trays. Instead of worring about honey I should just set a (med) on top and let them grow?

Thats what I would do.. Now would be a good time to add another box, than in time and progress, decide what to add later...

And next year split them?
When I split them do I split them in half or can I split them into 4 ?

I'd wait until next year to decide. I'd want to see how strong they were, and how well they overwintered.