This package is gonna drive me to drink!

[hummingberd]

I'm going to summarize:

Package hived 4/10/08.
Queen released 4/14/08
Colony queen-less, discovered 4/22/08
Re-queened 4/22/08
New queen released 4/23/08

Today is 4/30/08. Went out to check on progress. Found the queen. There was a small patch of capped brood about the size of a baseball. Some nectar/sugar syrup, a little pollen. There weren't really any bees flying. The thermometer reads 48, but it's also windy and a little overcast. I stopped feeding because they were filling all the cells with sugar syrup. (backfilling?) Couple of questions here.

1) Should I be worried about the lack of brood, or is it just the temps?

2) Should I feed sugar syrup? What ratio would you use for right now.

3) Should I give em a pollen patty?

This was a 3# package.

Thanks for your help guys and gals

[Ravenseye]

1) I think it's the temps. Check again in a week or so. If you found the queen, then at least you know you're queenright. Give her some time.

2) I would feed so long as they take it. Yes, they'll backfill but when the queen gets going, they'll use it quicker for food.

3) If there's pollen coming in, I would skip the patty. It won't hurt though. Should be plenty of pollen right now so long as the bees can fly.

4) (I know you didn't have a "4" but...) have a drink anyway!

[iddee]

You should.......Nail the top on and do not open for minimum 12 days
You should NOT.......Destroy a queen cell....NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.

You can feed, if done from the outside.

>>>>This package is gonna drive me to drink!<<<<

No,

This beek is going to drive us to drink.

Signed, The bees

[Chef Isaac]

iddee: That is down right funny!

[hummingberd]

iddee, I wasn't planning on killing any queen cells, and you're right the feeling's probably mutual!

[the kid]

If they drive you to drink ,,,, make them stay around ,,,, cause remember you have to get home after drinking

[Winterhawk]

Chill, Let Them Do Their Job

[sierrabees]

<This package is gonna drive me to drink!>

Is that a problem? Sounds like a good excuse to me.

[ScadsOBees]

All good advice...

Keep feeding 1:1. They can burn through their stores really really quick once the weather turns colder like it has and they can't forage so much.

-rick