I am a new beginner bee keeper. I just bought a hive kit, and left it sitting outside by my back door for past several days. Over the weekend I noticed some bees found it, and were checking it out. I have not arranged to get bees for my new hive yet, so it is vacant. I thought what the heck, why not feed them see what happens. So i put the hive together as though it would house some bees. I put the large brood on bottom with frames, a super with 1/2 frames pulled out to leave room for feeding. I put a bag of 2 to 1 sugar water in it in a quart zip lock bag in the super. I closed lid and just sort of watched over weekend. The stray bees consumed whole bag in 2 days. AMAZING TO WATCH THEM EAT!
I realize they are just robbing what is available. But it brought up some questions. 1) Is this a mistake in as much that when i Do get bees, they will rob my new young hive? I plan to move this hive at least 100-200 feet away from my house where it sits now. 2) IF i continue feeding these bees, is there a chance that they will remember the location and any swarms from their hive, would show up at this empty hive? 3) Assuming 2 is no, could i buy just a queen and put her in the hive in a cage, while the robbers are coming, and they stay and form a hive?
Curious questions.
ECarter
I realize they are just robbing what is available. But it brought up some questions. 1) Is this a mistake in as much that when i Do get bees, they will rob my new young hive? I plan to move this hive at least 100-200 feet away from my house where it sits now. 2) IF i continue feeding these bees, is there a chance that they will remember the location and any swarms from their hive, would show up at this empty hive? 3) Assuming 2 is no, could i buy just a queen and put her in the hive in a cage, while the robbers are coming, and they stay and form a hive?
Curious questions.
ECarter