Feeding the Hives

The Beeyard - August 2013

Nuc #1

New Hive

I've started feeding all the hives.  They take a jar of sugar syrup a day - would take twice that much if I'd give it to them.  I put a new jar out in the morning and by lunch, it's gone! 
The recipe - 1 cup sugar to 1 cup hot, almost boiling water - stir to dissolve the sugar and it's done.
I put Nuc #1 in a brood box this week.  They had filled out all their space in the nuc so time to move.

TIME Magazine August 19, 2013 Issue

If you get the chance to read this article, it's really interesting and provides information about CCD (colony collapse disorder), neonicotinoids (systematic chemicals), varroa destructor (a mite), american foulbrood, small hive beetle and loss of forage.  All of these factors are contributing to the demise of the honeybee.
Plus PPS (piss-poor beekeeping) the failure of beekeepers to stay on top of colony health which I'll have to admit has been the case with me more than once.

August Flowers

Feeding Hive #4

 

Put the feeder on Wed afternoon.  They've taken about half when I checked this morning.  While everybody around us seems to have had rain, we've had none.  There's not much out there for them to be feeding on so I'll probably be adding feeders to the Nucs in the next day or so.

More Wax Moths

Hive #6

 Hive #6 needed a little help.  It looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  I had already propped up the side and put a big board under the front - time for something a little better.  Took off the top super and the middle brood box - took the frames from the bottom brood box and put in another empty brood box right next to this one.  Then put back the second brood box and super.  The girls are fine - just moved over a little.

Looking inside Hive #4

Nuc #1 that was made on 6/27 - thought by now they would need more room - not the case.  They still had room but not much food so moved two frames w/honey from Hive #6. Did see the queen in this hive. 
Hive #4 - start feeding.
Nuc #3 - this hive was full of wax moths.  A couple more days and there would have been nothing left.  I hope there were enough bees saved - put them in a Nuc Box.  Mr. Ellis will try to get me a queen this week.  I'll start feeding this hive too.
New Hive - okay, full of bees and had plenty of food but still space.

Hive #6 - almost looks like Pecan Pie