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    On another topic when you feed in a top bar it helps if you have an extra follower board that's too short or has a couple holes in it. Then you can put a syrup can on the other side of it for the bees to get to. I made a simple wood stand the jar fits into so the bees can walk under it and get syrup. As long as they have a bar free, they don't usually build burr comb around it. This give you two advantages. You have put the syrup in a protected place and it's easy to get to without disturbing the hive. Also the heat the bees generate will warm the syrup making it more appealing to them (not an issue if your in a warm area). Here in Seattle it's usually in the 60s...

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    Worst case is they will make more comb if they need it. For a weak population if there is a lot of scattered comb and eggs/brood, it's hard for them to take care of everything. With less space, to work with they have less area to heat and less to take care for which focuses their energy on the eggs you gave them. They then will have the resources to turn the eggs you gave them into queen cells. Packages can build out 5-6 bars in a couple weeks. If they need more space and have bees, they will finish building the combs they have or start new ones. Do you use a follower in your top bar hive? That would also help them by having less space to heat than the full body of the top bar.

    Do you have any pictures of what things look like as far as the number of bees and the comb?

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    Hi Jeff,
    Just wanted to say that I did what you hav suggested to me- took all the comb from my weak hive, left them three medium ones ( they don't have big ones) and gave them the best, biggest comb with honey and eggs I could find in my strong hive. I sure hope your tecnique works. Thanks for responding to my thread and taking time to wright back. We'll see what happens in couple of weeks. Do you think I should've left them only two of their combs?
    Anyway, just wanted to say Thank You.
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