slow hive

1172 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Acebird, Jul 14, 2014

jneill

Discussion Starter · Jul 13, 2014

I am new to bee keeping this year and have chosen to start with 2 hives. I have garden hives with medium supers now I do know each hive should have 3 supers for the winter. My 1st hive is already there my second has had a rocky start. They have replaced the queen I see evidence that she's started laying but the amount of bees leaving the hive to forage is obviously not even close to my first hive. Should I feed them to assist? They are at 1 1/2 supers. Any help would be appreciated. Jamie in Maine

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Jackam

· #2 · Jul 14, 2014

I had a slow hive this year due to requeening (their idea - not mine.) I wrote it off for a honey harvest and fed until they drew the second deep. Now they are still the weaker hive but I am comfortable that they are doing well.
You won't hurt them by feeding a bit. I'd just concentrate on hive build up and not worry about getting honey from them this year.

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WBVC

· #3 · Jul 14, 2014

My hives wintered fine last year with only 2 boxes total.

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bbruff22

· #4 · Jul 14, 2014

Jackam said:
I had a slow hive this year due to requeening (their idea - not mine.) I wrote it off for a honey harvest and fed until they drew the second deep. Now they are still the weaker hive but I am comfortable that they are doing well.
You won't hurt them by feeding a bit. I'd just concentrate on hive build up and not worry about getting honey from them this year.

Ditto this response. Don't worry about honey, just try to help them get ready for winter as much as you can. Good luck to you!

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jneill

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 14, 2014

Thanks for the support. I never expected honey in my first year. I will feed them and concentrate on hive build up this first year for me it's about the bees more than honey again thanks. Jamie

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Acebird

· #6 · Jul 14, 2014

jneill said:
They have replaced the queen I see evidence that she's started laying but the amount of bees leaving the hive to forage is obviously not even close to my first hive.

Apparently the first hive is feeding itself so there is forage. I suspect in the second hive that they lack population so if you wanted to do anything give them brood or bees from the strong hive. I don't see what good feeding will do.

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