Hello all.
I am a sideliner with about 80 hives (does this make me a sideliner?). Over the last ten years I have learned Quite a bit but I am always looking to learn more. My job requires me to spend a great deal of time driving through the beautiful agricultural areas of the Willamete valley in oregon. Last year I noticed a large local beek with feed jugs on his hives during a flow and was curious as to why. After looking more closely I observed that these hives also had excluders and supers. I considered that there may be a small amount of feed in the jugs to just get the bees started in a new crop if the weather turned wet for a week before the hive was able to put up any stores. this could save the beek an emergency trip to feed in the rain. My thoughts were that he was taking a chance that it would not rain and the hfcs would be stored in the super, this resulting in adulterated honey. After watching very close lately I now see he has added supers and the feed jugs remain. I do know that the crop (meadowfoam) they are in yields lots of very mild honey , almost tastless.
I don't believe he is drawing comb for expansion because the supers are a different size than his brood boxes.
What legitimate reason would there be to feed and add supers at the same time?
I am a sideliner with about 80 hives (does this make me a sideliner?). Over the last ten years I have learned Quite a bit but I am always looking to learn more. My job requires me to spend a great deal of time driving through the beautiful agricultural areas of the Willamete valley in oregon. Last year I noticed a large local beek with feed jugs on his hives during a flow and was curious as to why. After looking more closely I observed that these hives also had excluders and supers. I considered that there may be a small amount of feed in the jugs to just get the bees started in a new crop if the weather turned wet for a week before the hive was able to put up any stores. this could save the beek an emergency trip to feed in the rain. My thoughts were that he was taking a chance that it would not rain and the hfcs would be stored in the super, this resulting in adulterated honey. After watching very close lately I now see he has added supers and the feed jugs remain. I do know that the crop (meadowfoam) they are in yields lots of very mild honey , almost tastless.
I don't believe he is drawing comb for expansion because the supers are a different size than his brood boxes.
What legitimate reason would there be to feed and add supers at the same time?