[cmcpherson]

I'm too new to even know if this is a silly question or not so please bear with me.
I checked on my hives today and had to cut out some cross comb.
In doing so, I noticed that they are storing the sugar water that I've been feeding.
Is this to be expected?
They are also drawing out comb at a good rate.

 

[Dave Burrup]

Any food source, be it nectar or sugar water, if in excess of the daily food requirements will be stored in the comb and capped.
Dave

 

[cmcpherson]

Thank you.
I understand that excess will be stored.
Does this mean that I'm feeding too much sugar?
Does it mean that I don't need to feed at all?
Or does it mean that they are doing just what they are supposed to; storing whatever food is available (in this case sugar) for winter?

I guess that I thought that there wouldn't be "excess" as long as they had empty frames to draw with comb.

I should have clarified that these are nucs started at the beginning of June.

 

[Rader Sidetrack]

Bees aren't likely to draw comb just to leave it empty. They are more likely to only draw comb when they have something to use it for (brood/pollen/nectar).

As to whether you should continue to feed, that depends on how much comb they have filled already. (Once you tell us that, then we can argue/discuss as to whether that amount is enough. )

 

[cmcpherson]

that depends on how much comb they have filled already.

Filled or drawn?
Each hive has one deep totally drawn and one medium drawn to about 75%.
The next time I visit, I'll get a better idea of how much comb is actually occupied.
It's probably about time to add a second medium huh?

 

[philip.devos]

I should have clarified that these are nucs started at the beginning of June.

Yes, they will store sugar water. Around this time of year (late summer) there may be a dearth of nectar. If you have a healthy hive and you do not feed during a dearth, the bees will use up the nectar they have stored in the comb. Last year I had a very healthy hive. The queen had moved to the upper box, and those frames had a lot of brood with some stores. The lower box, however, had fully drawn comb which the bees had emptied of stores. In late August I started feeding 2/1 sugar to water. In about a month the bees had refilled the comb and were ready for winter. This hive came through this nasty winter quite well.

Hope this helps.

Phil

 

[cmcpherson]

Thank you Phil.