How often should I check/refill feeders?

[caberwife]

I'm a complete and utter beekeeping neophyte, although I've got books and now an octagenarian beekeeper buddy (but I don't want to bother him constantly!) I installed two nucs in my two hives two days ago. The beekeeper who gave me my nucs told me to feed them all summer. I have hivetop feeders (the round ones that sit on top of a top board) that hold about two quarts of syrup each. I would like to know approximately how often I should check/refill these feeders?

As well, how disruptive is this to the bees, given that it involves taking off the lid, but not going into the hive (under the top board)? Do I need to smoke the bees a bit before filling the feeders?

Thanks for your help. I want to keep the kids happy!

[Ardilla]

They could drain two quarts in a couple days. If there is a decent nectar flow, they will take the syrup slower.

You could probably check the feeder once a week and be o.k. Twice a week may be better when they are building up and drawing out comb.

Filling the feeders isn't much of a disturbance at all. You can probably get away with not using the smoker. However, if you are new to using a smoker, I would light it and use it sparingly just for the practice. It shouldn't be necessary for filling a feeder, but sometimes they will surprise you.

[JOHNYOGA2]

Factors that influance how fast they take syrup include whether they are drawing new comb, how many bees are working, and what else they can find.
I agree that checking them two times a week is probably a good place to start. That way, if they're empty each time you check, you can increase the number of times you check. But remember that their needs will change as the summer progresses and there are changes in what's blooming. They may take more syrup in July then they take now. Or less. And, normally, refilling the syrup bucket is not disruptive to them at all, but a little smoke is sometimes as soothing to the beek as it is to the bees!
Here we winter the bees in two deeps and we would normally stop feeding when they had two deeps filled. But I would follow the instructions of your mentor if I were you since she/he is clearly more familiar with your area then most of us would be.
Good Luck!!

[caberwife]

Thanks to both of you for your good advice! I went out today (Sunday) to check the bee feeders (filled last Wednesday.) I'd say they are down about a third; still quite a lot of syrup left. No drowned bees, which is good. I have those round hivetop feeders that look a bit like a bundt pan with a lid. What I found interesting is that one feeder was crazy busy with bees, but in the other hive there were only about two bees at the feeder. I don't know what, if anything, this means! If it's significant that one is less active, please let me know.

It has been very hot and humid lately (for this area, which means 85F - 90F).

I did wear my bee suit today, and fired up the smoker for practice, but I don't think I really needed it. Well, I definitely need the practice lighting my smoker... when I installed the bees last Weds., I had absolutely no trouble lighting. Today, however, I thought I was going to set my entire woodlot on fire when I dropped a flaming piece of newspaper onto the ground. Not to worry, I was prepared and got the paper extinguished. :)

Thank you again for the help.

[Axtmann]

I don’t feed my bees during honey flow, only after I harvest the last crop and this is here the blackberry honey.
Some beekeeper likes to extract sugar syrup instead of honey.

[gmcharlie]

new hive in Ontario, feed all summer and take no honey.....

As the hive grows they will suck down more and more nectar. A decent 4 frame nuc can use 1/2 gallon in 3 days,,,,, so keep an eye on them as they grow.

Try misting with sugar water as you open the hive, less disruptive and the bees actually get used to the intrusion....

The few Hives (nucs) I feed I don't even put gear on for, no headnet, and just shorts....

[caberwife]

gmcharlie, that' s in line with the advice I got from the beekeeper who sold me my nucs. He said to keep feeding them all summer. I'm fine with not taking honey this year. I just want to have strong colonies for winter!

As for the sugar water, I have two questions (sorry if the answers seem obvious!): what ratio sugar to water for misting the bees, and is this something I do in addition to smoking the hive? Thanks!

[gmcharlie]

I use the same 2-1 ratio I feed.... just a distraction for them... as the smoke causes them to Gorge on existing honey, they then have to put it back.... Sugar water at least gets them new stuff, and 90% of teh time they are so busy licking it up they are not aggresive at all....