My bees drink like a fish?

[dprater]

First year, have 2 hives that are doing great. Got them April 14 and just put # 3 medium brood supper on today, ( 8 frames). Only feeding every few days now, these girls can suck up 2 quarts per hive in one day. Is that the norm?

Should I keep syrup for them all the time, or feed them 2 or 3 times a week? Did not thank about a sugar bill when I started bees LOL!

[Kathyp]

depends on what's going on inside.  are they leaving room for brood, or filling the hive with syrup?  are they building comb?  whats going on in your area with the nectar flow? 

[AllenF]

I bet you can take the feeder away.

[dprater]

kathyp- building comb like crazy,bottom supper-all frames full with comb, capped brood in the center with open cells with brood at different stages around that, pollen and then capped syrup or honey in the corners. # 2 brood in center with 6 frames drown out, moved two outside frames in one step and added a new supper.

Flow? they are bringing lots of pollen in. I live in central South Carolina but have not got a grip on the flow thing yet.

Thanks