summer feeding

[kenr]

Would it be wise to sacrafice any hope of A honey crop this year and feed to try to get the bees to build more comb for the next year.This is my first year and one of my hives have drawn out three mediums and the other has drawn out two and started on the third.I'm hoping to checker board next spring.

[Hillside]

I've often gotten a little honey on the first year of a package even started on foundation. Not a lot, but enough to say I got some.

In my area, this is what I would do.

The hive that has three deeps drawn:
If they have stored some honey or even filled the box with some nectar, I would put on a super and see what happens.

The hive with only two mediums drawn:
I'd keep feeding until they get the third box drawn.

Be prepared to feed in the fall if they don't have enough stores to get through winter.

[Ann]

Hmmm.....we didn't feed when we put the third medium box on our active hive and it seemed to build out just fine, but we are still feeding the smaller hive (only two mediums so far, had a problem, long story short is it seemed to be solved, but it's definitely a weaker hive). Should we continue to feed the smaller one once we put the third super on?

[Hillside]

As long as you want them to make wax, you could continue to feed. If they have a nectar source they may not really need the feed, but you want to make certain they get a fully drawn brood nest before winter sets in, so the insurance of a little feed certainly doesn't hurt. The first year, having enough comb drawn is very important.

If they have drawn out enough comb that you're thinking about getting some honey, you need to pull off the feed.

When it gets into the fall, if they haven't produced enough stores to get through the winter, you'll have to go back into feeding mode.

[magnet-man]

Since this is your first year, you want some honey. Remember this rule. Honey is more valuable than sugar. Take your honey and replace with feed.

[Michael Bush]

I'd let them do what they do. Drawn wax is a nice thing to have, but is also a very perishable item. Wax moths can devastate it in a short time. Just try to have a good strong hive with lots of honey and let next year take care of itself. Unless you're trying to regress or get contaminated comb out of the hive, I wouldn't be trying to get lots of comb.