Kathy, I have been of the mindset, that package bees will not give very much extra honey (for humans) in their first year. They use their honey for themselves and brood rearing. Wait, your bees will probably build up just fine and you may have a little taste of honey to call your own. That is a bonus. I think that going into the beekeeping season with package bees is the year of build-up. This year, you are armed with lots of knowledge, to bring your bees healthy and big numbers into the winter, to bring you strongly into the land of milk and honey for next year. Good luck. I think that you are just underestimating your bees. Give them a little syrup, why not? They would consume it themselves more than likely before they would store it for honey that you might eat. Living, learning, love the life that you are livin'. You are doing a great job with your bees, I am proud of you. Cindi