Hi all,
Once more here is a newbie with questions!
So about 2 weeks ago I was worried about my hive slowing down comb building, and got some suggestions from you guys, a few being maybe try to feed 1:1 sugar water. I placed the feeder about 2 feet from the hive, and they did not touch it for about a week.
Then all of a sudden, about a week or so ago, they started to use it a lot. Since last Friday, I have gone through a 5lb bag of sugar. They continue to be all over it.
So my ? is, is this ok for me to continue to feed them, or should I stop and let them forage on their own? If there is nectar flow, will they not use the feeder? And will they possibly make them become honey bound if I continue to feed them?
One more ?, Last weekend I looked in the window and it appeared that the last comb they were forming was starting to curve off the bar a bit. So I opened up the hive to inspect closer, and about 4 inches or so toward one end was completely off the guide on the bar. I am not sure if I should have done this, but decided to cut off what was not on the bar. I also went ahead and put spacers in, hoping this would help them to get back on track. What should I do if they continue to build slightly off the bars?
Any advice is great for me, I am petrified that I am going to fail my bees, and somehow destroy them with my lack of knowledge!
Thanks!
Once more here is a newbie with questions!
So about 2 weeks ago I was worried about my hive slowing down comb building, and got some suggestions from you guys, a few being maybe try to feed 1:1 sugar water. I placed the feeder about 2 feet from the hive, and they did not touch it for about a week.
Then all of a sudden, about a week or so ago, they started to use it a lot. Since last Friday, I have gone through a 5lb bag of sugar. They continue to be all over it.
So my ? is, is this ok for me to continue to feed them, or should I stop and let them forage on their own? If there is nectar flow, will they not use the feeder? And will they possibly make them become honey bound if I continue to feed them?
One more ?, Last weekend I looked in the window and it appeared that the last comb they were forming was starting to curve off the bar a bit. So I opened up the hive to inspect closer, and about 4 inches or so toward one end was completely off the guide on the bar. I am not sure if I should have done this, but decided to cut off what was not on the bar. I also went ahead and put spacers in, hoping this would help them to get back on track. What should I do if they continue to build slightly off the bars?
Any advice is great for me, I am petrified that I am going to fail my bees, and somehow destroy them with my lack of knowledge!
Thanks!