I recently have been feeding my new bees sugar water of 1:1 and 2:1. They have nicely filled up 7-8 frames of
honey brood and pollen.
If the sugar water is disappearing from your internal feeder it is most likey
what you have are frames loaded with sugar water, not nectar/honey.
Feeding bees sugar water/fondant/whatever in this Country is just plain wrong.
There is plenty of opportunity to take off frames of honey etc in those locations
_any_ feeding may be required during unforseen deatths.
I feel as though the queen (who is alive and well) is laying less due to space?
Exactly... doing the bees a disservice in holding back maintaining CM.
Also coming into winter, I live on the east coast in wollonong. Can I add a small vent
into the hive lid for ventilation, or will it be to cold for the bees coming into winter.
Anywhere any colony has to be able to control it's own airpath. That includes bring
in "fresh air".. to keep it simple.
Skegs is spoton... bees will control the flow. Your CB is there very likely from poor
circulation of air. If no top vent is available, make one and mesh it. You can do this
now with battery drill and spade bit, "on the fly".
I attach the ideal location.
Also with all this honey it's tempting to add another box,
Don't... that ship has sailed with your excuberant dousing with sugar water.
Lucks to the bees :-))
Bill