[Edymnion]

Currently I have a hive that overwintered as a glorified 5 frame nuc (in a 9 frame box, the extra space filled with foam board) that I have recently taken the stuffing out of and put wax foundation frames back in place. My goal for this hive is to build it up into two full deeps, get honey, and possibly steal a couple of frames from it in order to do a split (Only about 2 frames, hopefully my second hive will be able to provide 2 more so that neither of them are set back much).

Obviously, helping them along with getting some buildup going is whats on my mind right now. Yesterday it was warm enough for them to be flying en masse, and they found some old crystallized honey I had tossed out for the neighbor's dog, and were going to town on it. Makes me think maybe I should put some syrup in the feeder, but I know for a fact they've got a candy board over their heads that they've only eaten at most a third of (and a patty on top of that).

So, I ask ye of greater experience than I. Should I give them syrup from the feeder until an actual flow starts, or leave them bee with their candy board and whatever else they can scrape up out there? I feel like they should be fine with the dry sugar still in the candyboard, but I have to admit they seemed very eager to get as much of that crystallized honey as they could. So what would promote buildup more, dry sugar or sugar syrup?

 

[JRG13]

1:1 syrup and pollen patty

 

[Ross]

You can feed syrup as long as the weather stays warm. It's a bit early here for that, even though this week is in the 70's. I'm keeping mine on dry sugar for a few more weeks.

 

[David LaFerney]

My observation is that the more feed you can get them to take this time of year the bigger and faster they grow. Then come April you have to keep them from swarming.

I'm feeding pollen sub candy on the top bars under a 2 inch shim and medium syrup through a hole in the cover while the temps are up like they are now. I'm splitting out nucs in April though.

 

[Edymnion]

Then come April you have to keep them from swarming.

I would welcome a hive that crowded, as I could then easily make splits.

 

[David LaFerney]

I totally agree - at this point in my beekeeping experience I'll take strong hives over weak ones any time. The stronger the better. That may not be the easiest way to swarm management and a good honey crop, but it's still the problem I would rather have at this point.

If strong hives in the spring are what you want at this point in the season pollen sub is your friend.

 

[Edymnion]

Oh yeah, they've got a pollen sub on already (I included it in the candy board, actually), and I put some syrup in the feeder for them.

"Explode" is a word I would like to use.