I've got a 1 1/2 month colony that came from a nuc from the local queen rearer with 5 full bars of a good mix of honey, brood & nectar but those stores have been used. They now have filled about 9 bars total, 6-7 of those are nearly solid brood comb. I saw no capped honey (there could have been some but I couldn't see it) & the same for nectar. & 1 comb of mostly pollen. There is a queen & she robust & busy. I saw only one drone in the hive, no mites, no pests to speak of. I do have a supercedure cup that is now sealed. I have about double the amount of bees I started with so the queen is doing her job but what is going on with the honey?!!! I am not planning on taking any until next spring (if there is any), that is not my goal, I want them to get through the winter first!
I am afraid they are going to go into the winter with very little food stores! Should I be concerned with the supercedure cup this late in the season?
Any thoughts, ideas of what is going on? Anything I should be doing? I am a first year beek but I would prefer to keep my approach as natural & unobtrusive as possible.
I am afraid they are going to go into the winter with very little food stores! Should I be concerned with the supercedure cup this late in the season?
Any thoughts, ideas of what is going on? Anything I should be doing? I am a first year beek but I would prefer to keep my approach as natural & unobtrusive as possible.
