What should I feed in the spring in the NorthEast/Midwest?

[pokerman11]

Setting up my first few hives here in North Eastern Ohio. I’m getting my nucs from a local vender and I go pick them up in a few weeks. Got my boxes ready to go and really getting excited.

I know I will need to feed sugar water but also wondering if I should need to feed things like:

1) Essential Oils
2) Fumagilin – B
3) Pollen patties

The books I’m reading seem to differ. Some mention that my first year I should only worry about sugar -but I’m wondering some of your opinions.

What do you guys think?

Thanks

jp

[rw3212]

I’m wondering some of your opinions. What do you guys think?

Be careful what you ask for

[alpha6]

If you are going to feed 1:1 I would also feed them essential oils. If you feed thymol then you don't need to feed Fum B. If there is pollen coming in then you don't need to feed pollen patties. If there is no bloom when you get your nucs then fed by all means. Remember that if you are just starting your bees out and your foundation isn't drawn out yet...feed them so they can draw it out quicker. If there is no flow and no 1:1 then they won't draw out any comb.

[danno]

You can use oils like Honey-b-healthy but it isnt nessesary. I use it only because it seems to help the syrup keep alittle longer. Patties wont be nessessary in a couple of weeks. My bee's up here in Michigan are already finding alittle natural pollen and once that get going they wont touch patties. I do feed Fumagilin in spring and fall in syrup. Some do and some dont. Really with nuc's you will already have drawn comb for the queen to start laying in so you dont have to feed alot. That was my mistake the first year is over feeding and all I did was cause some honey bound hives which swarmed on me

[tecumseh]

danno writes:
Really with nuc's you will already have drawn comb for the queen to start laying in so you dont have to feed alot.

tecumseh:
I suggest 'think dribble' until you have one good box of bees.

[indypartridge]

1:1 sugar water is all I do for packages & nucs. I keep it available to them until they've drawn out two deeps.

[Michael Bush]

If they have plenty of stores and there is pollen coming in (which there is now here), I wouldn't fed them anything.

Here's some reasons why:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesterms.htm#fumidil

[mariongoose]

My bees (2 nucs) arrive in a week. There is plenty of pollen in our woods and some nectar also. I'd like not to feed if they won't need it. But how can I tell if they will need it?

[Michael Bush]

If there is plenty of nectar (blooming plants of variety such as dandelions, fruit trees, etc.) and they have some capped stores, they should do fine.