[Vance]

I captured a swarm 4 weeks ago. Put them in single deep with 1 frame of drawn comb. They completely drew the frames in the deep in 2 weeks. Put second deep on 2 weeks ago, they have now drawn out all but the outside frames on that deep, I looked at that deep on Monday and the queen has layed in almost every cell on both sides of 5 frames in that deep. I have feed 8 gallons of 1:1 in 4 weeks and they keep taking it. We are also in the middle of a very good flow. Should i keep feeding or stop?

Vance

 

[Iddee]

I would quit feeding and add a honey super, with the hope of getting a harvest.

 

[Vance]

Thanks for the reply. They have stored so much syrup will they move it into a super when i add one?

 

[Iddee]

Not if there is a flow on.

 

[Vance]

Great thanks, I guess i'll give them a super today. I've never seen a swarm work like this one does.

 

[riverrat]

man them are junk lazy bees if i was closer i would come and take them off your hands. lol

 

[sqkcrk]

My general rule of thumb, advising beekeepers who are starting a new hive, is feed a colony until it stops taking the syrup. As iddy said, sorta, if there is a flow on they will ignore the syrup.

This time of year, I assume, you are feeding them to draw foundation? If so, I would think that in Texas, either the nectar is flowing or it has gone by. No?

 

[tecumseh]

my rule for either starting from nucs, packages or captured swarm is to feed them until they are 1 box of bees. Of course feeding to encourage the pulling of wax beyond one box is not necessarily a bad idea.... for example having extras is always useful if you wish to capture swarms.