Welcome, Guest
Login or Register
Home
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2  All   Go Down

Author Topic: Feeding Packages  (Read 6017 times)

Offline JordanM

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 393
  • Gender: Male
Feeding Packages
« on: April 15, 2009, 09:31:52 pm »
I will be getting 6 packages soon. I would like to know how much sugar syrup/feed i should have for each package?
Logged

Offline Michael Bush

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 19923
  • Gender: Male
    • bushfarms.com
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2009, 11:05:06 pm »
I'd plan on feeding each a gallon or more depending on when things start blooming and how much they take.  I always have sugar on hand for syrup.
Logged
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline indypartridge

  • Queen Bee
  • ****
  • Posts: 1131
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2009, 07:55:09 am »
For packages starting on foundation, I feed until they have 2 deeps of drawn comb. How much each takes depends on what's blooming. As Michael noted, just get in the habit of always buying sugar so you always have it on hand. I'd probably buy 10 lbs per package for starters.
Logged

Offline Two Bees

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 614
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2009, 08:38:29 am »
Agree with the previous posts.  Feed as much as they will take.  They will stop when there is a good natural source of nectar.  Your syrup ratio should be 1:1 (1 pint of water to 1 pound of sugar).

Last year when I started my packages in late April, each hive was going through a gallon about every 2 1/2 to 3 days! 
« Last Edit: April 16, 2009, 11:24:05 am by Two Bees »
Logged
"Don't know what I'd do without that boy......but I'm sure willin' to give it a try!"
J.D. Clampett commenting about Jethro Bodine.

Offline dpence

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 672
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2009, 10:36:59 am »
Agree here too, I buy sugar in 25# bags at Wal-Mart.  I use a gallon pickle jar on top of inner cover.

David


Logged

Offline MustbeeNuts

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 552
  • Gender: Male
    • Great White Betta
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2009, 11:59:47 am »
I have started to buy sugar in the #25 or #50 size range. Seems taht I use 20lbs at a crack, for seven hives. and they have honey stores from last years hive dieouts. They are taking half a gallon in a day and a half. Thirsty little gals.
Logged
Each new day brings decisions,  these are  new branches on the tree of life.

Offline JordanM

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 393
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2009, 08:35:51 pm »
Will they still take this much even if i use entrance feeders? I panned on using the inside frame feeders for 3 packages and entrance feeders for the other three to see which ones did better. The frame feeders are only about 1 gallon so does this mean that i am going to be filling that like every week?
Logged

Offline MustbeeNuts

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 552
  • Gender: Male
    • Great White Betta
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2009, 09:04:00 pm »
Quote from: JordanM on April 16, 2009, 08:35:51 pm
Will they still take this much even if i use entrance feeders? I panned on using the inside frame feeders for 3 packages and entrance feeders for the other three to see which ones did better. The frame feeders are only about 1 gallon so does this mean that i am going to be filling that like every week?

More like every 5 days or so, mine like too take at least half a gallon in a day and a half, meaning the second day I need to put more in the jars, I now feed mine through a hole in the lid using 2 quart jars. I filled these last night around 5pm, its 8Pm today see how much went down, they are two quart jars.  http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/bettafan/DSCF1802.jpg  I have to fill them again tommorrow.

I tried those frame feeders, I put screen in mine so the bees could get out, didn't seem to work so good it was full of dead bees. I threw it out. went to the jars. I had so much robbing with the entrance feeders those went away too. 
Logged
Each new day brings decisions,  these are  new branches on the tree of life.

Offline TimLa

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 102
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2009, 01:39:57 am »
Now that photo just brought a moment of clarity.  Very cool way to do that, I'm not all that happy with the empty deep with a feeder in it method....

Do you run in to any issues with not having a tin cover on the cover?  Or do you replace the top cover with an un-modified one once feeding season is over?

-T
Logged
Some days you just want to line them all up and start asking questions.

Offline Jack

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 72
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2009, 08:39:54 am »
I am just wondering if the top feeding method would introduce water into the hive on a rain storm? Other than that it looks like a good way to go. Boardman at the entry is an invite for robbing.
Logged

Offline Two Bees

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 614
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2009, 08:49:21 am »
I can't see the picture that you're talking about but I have always fed my bees with a gallon jar inverted over the inner cover oval hole.  If you fill the jar all of the way up, it takes very little to create a suction that prevents the syrup from dripping.  Place the jar over the hole, put an empty deep around it, place a telescoping top cover on top, and a brick or two.  Presto!  No robbing and no rain.  To check to see how much they are consuming, just lift the tele-top!
Logged
"Don't know what I'd do without that boy......but I'm sure willin' to give it a try!"
J.D. Clampett commenting about Jethro Bodine.

Offline MustbeeNuts

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 552
  • Gender: Male
    • Great White Betta
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2009, 09:03:25 am »
Quote from: Jack on April 17, 2009, 08:39:54 am
I am just wondering if the top feeding method would introduce water into the hive on a rain storm? Other than that it looks like a good way to go. Boardman at the entry is an invite for robbing.


Hasn't yet , but what little there would be probly doesn't matter. the whole is just right and the jar neck plugs it up. I used a nice exterior paint so water just beads up on it so far. Only issue is that it may need replacing evey few years.
Logged
Each new day brings decisions,  these are  new branches on the tree of life.

Offline JordanM

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 393
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2009, 09:01:16 pm »
Here is a feeder that i through together tonight.

Will this work allright for the bees, it goes over the inner cover and you put a super over it and then the cover?
Logged

Offline MustbeeNuts

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 552
  • Gender: Male
    • Great White Betta
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2009, 09:06:22 pm »
Looks great to me, no reason it won't work wonderfully. Your pretty handy with wood, wish I was.
Logged
Each new day brings decisions,  these are  new branches on the tree of life.

Offline TimLa

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 102
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2009, 09:09:18 pm »
I use one of these and crumple up a sheet of newspaper into a rope shape, then stuff it in the trough so the bees have a way to climb out.  Fits inside a deep, so I put it on top of the inner cover then add an empty deep then the top cover.

Works like a champ.
Logged
Some days you just want to line them all up and start asking questions.

Offline Kathyp

  • Global Moderator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 20449
  • Gender: Female
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2009, 09:10:31 pm »
i use those to mass feed away from the hives.  i just put rocks in the dish  ;-)
Logged
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline JordanM

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 393
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2009, 09:36:00 pm »
Quote from: MustbeeNuts on April 17, 2009, 09:06:22 pm
Looks great to me, no reason it won't work wonderfully. Your pretty handy with wood, wish I was.

Thanks i put together 6 in about 3 hours. I will proboly try these out and see how they work and maybe try a frame feeder in a few to.
Logged

Offline JordanM

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 393
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #17 on: April 19, 2009, 08:35:30 pm »
Here is my modified frame feeder. I put a plexiglass window in the inner cover so you can see when the sugar water is getting low and a garden hose tube in the center to fill it back up when it is getting low. Now i do not have to open the hive to check the feeder or fill it up just look in the window and see how much is left.

The first picture shows the feeder through the window and the hose to fill the feeder up.

The second picture is the inner cover and window where you can see the feeder.
Logged

Offline MustbeeNuts

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 552
  • Gender: Male
    • Great White Betta
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #18 on: April 20, 2009, 09:28:44 pm »
LOL looks like work to me Jordan, I still like my idea, on the top , pull, fill, put it back. http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/bettafan/DSCF1802.jpg
Logged
Each new day brings decisions,  these are  new branches on the tree of life.

Offline mudlake

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 55
  • Gender: Male
Re: Feeding Packages
« Reply #19 on: April 20, 2009, 10:38:17 pm »
Give the frame feeders to someone you don't like, all they do is drown bees.  Tony
Logged
Pages: [1] 2  All   Go Up
« previous next »