Okay. Thanks for the information. But your advice to stop feeding directly contradicts other advice I've been given. Since this is a brand new top bar hive started late in the year, I've been told by several people to "feed, feed, feed" since the bees are starting from scratch. The bees seem to be doing well, but I thought they would've built more comb by now. I have eight full bars of comb, with two more started (with festooning bees on both).
I opened the hive a week ago and the bees are storing honey. Some of the newer combs are about half full of capped honey. Is your advice to stop feeding? I've also been told that the bees will stop eating from the feeder as soon as they have other resources outside the hive. They empty the feeder every day (about three cups of sugar) and I see bees going in and out the entrance. Some have pollen, and I assume some are carrying nectar. I know they are rearing brood, too.
I have read everything I've found on bees and spend a lot of time reading this forum. Conflicting information is frustrating. I don't see that is issue would be any different if I were using a Lang hive.
Thanks for your comments. I look forward to more. I see that you have about 40 1/2 years of experience on me!