[RLBrooks]

I caught three new swarms in my traps and got them home Sunday night and it has rained everyday since. There are plenty of blossoms but I don't thing they had time to put any stores in the traps last week before I brought them home. Now I have to decide whether to try to open them up and give them a frame of honey from my old colonies in this 58 degree drizzle or wait one more day when it's supposed to be clearing off. They've been here at home for three days with no chance to gather nectar. Question: could they starve today? Is opening them in the cool drizzle more harmful than letting them go one more day with no honey?

 

[drlonzo]

If you have the extra honey go ahead and give it to them. One frame is plenty and it will help them get their own combs built out and give them a boost when it comes to building brood. I hived package bees this year 10 of them, which isn't much diff than a swarm. I gave them each a frame with stores on it. They have took off like rockets and no sign of slow down. The drizzle won't be that bad for them, just be quick about it.

 

[RLBrooks]

Thanks, drlonzo, I opened an old hive and took a couple frames of honey for the two swarms that were still in their traps that I was concerned about. I guess I underestimated the work ethic of those swarms though. They both had some frames half full of honey just in the week that they were in the traps. I gave them honey anyway since I already disturbed the old hive in the rain and didn't want to tamper with them again.

 

[homesteader824]

Honey wouldn't hurt. Feeding 1:1 syrup might help them build up faster. If you do either, be sure to reduce the entrance, or they may be overrun with robbers when the bees can fly again.

 

[RLBrooks]

Honey wouldn't hurt. Feeding 1:1 syrup might help them build up faster. If you do either, be sure to reduce the entrance, or they may be overrun with robbers when the bees can fly again.

They are still in the swarm trap with one round entrance hole 1 1/4" so I don't think there will be any robbing. If it stops raining tomorrow, I will move them into a 8 frame medium with small entrance and start them on syrup.