is it possible for a new hive to become syrup-bound? my newly installed packages had some starter comb. and of course i fed them syrup. then they had three days of cold rainy weather. so they didn't have much to do other than hoard syrup. when i went in yesterday to check that the queen was released from her cage, i saw that all the comb was completely filled with heavy glistening syrup. they were actively drawing new comb too. more than i expected after 5 days. in the new comb they had some palm sized patches of new mud colored pollen with more syrup. but no eggs.
i saw a queen on one of the frames of syrup, but there was no where for her to even think about laying. i'm glad they're hoarders, but they may have overdone it. i can't imagine a new package would swarm. i am bit concerned that they're hurting their brood production and that could affect them as the older bees work themselves to death.
we're supposed to have 5 good warm days, so i'm hoping the wax builders can crank it up and give the queen more empty comb. they've got plenty of syrup and now they have pollen. i'm going to leave them alone for two weeks and let bees do what they do. hopefully they'll work it out.
i saw a queen on one of the frames of syrup, but there was no where for her to even think about laying. i'm glad they're hoarders, but they may have overdone it. i can't imagine a new package would swarm. i am bit concerned that they're hurting their brood production and that could affect them as the older bees work themselves to death.
we're supposed to have 5 good warm days, so i'm hoping the wax builders can crank it up and give the queen more empty comb. they've got plenty of syrup and now they have pollen. i'm going to leave them alone for two weeks and let bees do what they do. hopefully they'll work it out.
