should I feed now?

[firetool]

 good to be back every one.  I hope ever one had a good Christmas and happy new year!
We are haveing a very warm winter here. we have had some days of seventies and eighties. Do I need to feed the bees I am afraid they will use up there feed supplies to soon.

Brian

[amymcg]

You may want to start checking their stores. If you think they are light, then you may want to give them something. With temps that high, you could do an inspection without any worries and have a more definite idea of what they have available.  When do you normally get your first bloom?

[Michael Bush]

If the hive is heavy, I wouldn't worry about it.  If it's light, put some feed on.  They may not take it, if it's too cold, but at least it's there for warm days.

[taw]

If the hive is heavy, I wouldn't worry about it.  If it's light, put some feed on.  They may not take it, if it's too cold, but at least it's there for warm days.

Folks around here (NC) are talking about feeding pollin for spring buildup. Red Maple starts blooming the first week in February. We are almost there so... *shrug*. They have plenty of honey stores (I feed them a couple weeks ago just to make sure - 'twas a bit light).

Thoughts?

[Michael Bush]

I don't live in North Carolina.    Maybe it's a good time to feed there.  I did put pollen patties on and there are frame feeders in my hives, but they aren't very interested int he syrup.  I put some dry pollen and substitute out and the bees are going nuts for that.  They are also searching every old comb on the place for bits of pollen.

[taw]

I don't live in North Carolina.    Maybe it's a good time to feed there.  I did put pollen patties on and there are frame feeders in my hives, but they aren't very interested int he syrup.  I put some dry pollen and substitute out and the bees are going nuts for that.  They are also searching every old comb on the place for bits of pollen.

That's all I needed. Thanks. I will feed these guys pollin then. They probably need it. I just wanted a second opinion or experience. Thank.

-todd

[taw]

I don't live in North Carolina.    Maybe it's a good time to feed there.  I did put pollen patties on and there are frame feeders in my hives, but they aren't very interested int he syrup.  I put some dry pollen and substitute out and the bees are going nuts for that.  They are also searching every old comb on the place for bits of pollen.

That's all I needed. Thanks. I will feed these guys pollin then. They probably need it. I just wanted a second opinion or experience. Thank.

-todd

*pollen* even. Geez. I can't spell.
-todd

[latebee]

Sometimes if you feed 1 to 1 syrup too early, brood production can be stimulated and this will cause problems. Try not to give them over a quart of this syrup at any one time. 2 to 1 syrup should not cause a harmful  increase in brood production, as long as there is not a lot of pollen or water availiable in cold weather.

[firetool]

I decided it was warm enough to get into the hive the other day to see how they were doing.I had already mixed up suger water, so I put that on to anyway. I liked what I found.They still had alot of honey in the hives still. One week later they had not even used half of the suger water. I was very pleased to see this.

Brian Nall

[DBoire]

I've often found that "if light feed, if heavy ok"  difficult to deal with.  I use the rule that a colony should never have less than the equivalent of 3-4 full combs of honey.  I like to quantify whenever possible.