Felt In A Panic......OH No

[Acebird]

If the nucs have a flow on, there is plenty of honey, and they're not building comb I don't see any indication to feed at all.

I don't care what forum you belong to, what club you belong to, or what bee keeping class you take, a newbie will get pounded with the need to ALWAYS feed a new hive.  Along with the feed, feed, feed, mentality comes the treat, treat, treat mentality.  It is unavoidable.  A newbie doesn't have any experience to make the judgement on when it is good or when it is bad, until it is too late.

[Michael Bush]

Feeding is about the only way to get a new colony to swarm... and it works most all of the time...

[GSF]

Feeding is usually a must for a new colony (package bees). You just have to be careful to avoid having them do what others are saying.

[Michael Bush]

>Feeding is usually a must for a new colony (package bees).

I seldom feed them.  Unless there is some reason for a dearth or there is several days of rain and they have no stores, I do not feed them.  They build up very quickly.  Feeding them clogs the brood nest and slows down their buildup.

[billdean]

If the nucs have a flow on, there is plenty of honey, and they're not building comb I don't see any indication to feed at all. Is there a reason you're feeding?

I'm not the best to listen to as I never have to feed here, just curious as to why you're feeding in that situation

I am re-thinking this after reading Michael Bush's comments. I seem to agree though why feed.

[billdean]

>Feeding is usually a must for a new colony (package bees).

I seldom feed them.  Unless there is some reason for a dearth or there is several days of rain and they have no stores, I do not feed them.  They build up very quickly.  Feeding them clogs the brood nest and slows down their buildup.

Well..........needless to say I am really confused now. I installed my packaged bees over 5 weeks ago so I am thinking maybe there not a new colony now? This subject seems to have multiple opinions and very confusing to new beeks! Feed......Don't feed. What I summarize from all this seems to be use common sense! There were times 5 weeks ago that feeding seemed to be needed. It was cold, no flow and the packages were just getting going. Now common sense seems to say why feed? Were at peak flow, the weather is warm, they have built up lots of honey/syrup, pollen, honey is coming in at a fast pace. I think there is a new turn over of young foraging bee and more on there way daily so I can see the argument for not feeding. 

[billdean]

If the nucs have a flow on, there is plenty of honey, and they're not building comb I don't see any indication to feed at all.

I don't care what forum you belong to, what club you belong to, or what bee keeping class you take, a newbie will get pounded with the need to ALWAYS feed a new hive.  Along with the feed, feed, feed, mentality comes the treat, treat, treat mentality.  It is unavoidable.  A newbie doesn't have any experience to make the judgement on when it is good or when it is bad, until it is too late.

Perfectly said! I totally agree!!!!! Let common sense and your gut tell you what should be done.

[iddee]

A new colony has less than a full frame of honey. If they have more, they are not new anymore. Feed a new colony, not one that has a 6 month supply on hand.

[GSF]

With the flow on, I'd probably let them go to nature, if they are strong, to get their food. There's a popular saying in beekeeping; "The only thing that two out of three beekeepers agree on is that the 3rd one is wrong."

[Caribou]

Michael, I am a newbee, actually I should be listed here as brood, so when I installed my first packages it was with totally new  equipment.  When you install a new package you have the option of drawn comb and honey.  Does that affect the feed/don't feed decision?

P.S. I saw you in Palmer.  Thanks for making the trip.

[KeyLargoBees]

I did packages for exactly one year  so take this for what it's worth ... I had people giving me the feed feed feed speech as well but when you see them with two or three frames of uncapped nectar you have to say to yourself "gee that's enough"  and stop feeding... As a new keeper you're most likely doing weekly inspections so if you see them get a little dry you can always feed some more but if you let them backfield the brood  nest with sugar water you are in trouble . There is no formula for beekeeping you sort of have to read everything you can on both sides of the fence and then decide for yourself based on your local conditions and a little bit of commonsense and the bees will take care of the rest...

[billdean]

I did packages for exactly one year  so take this for what it's worth ... I had people giving me the feed feed feed speech as well but when you see them with two or three frames of uncapped nectar you have to say to yourself "gee that's enough"  and stop feeding... As a new keeper you're most likely doing weekly inspections so if you see them get a little dry you can always feed some more but if you let them backfield the brood  nest with sugar water you are in trouble . There is no formula for beekeeping you sort of have to read everything you can on both sides of the fence and then decide for yourself based on your local conditions and a little bit of commonsense and the bees will take care of the rest...

I believe this to be very true!!!!!!

[Michael Bush]

>Michael, I am a newbee, actually I should be listed here as brood, so when I installed my first packages it was with totally new  equipment.  When you install a new package you have the option of drawn comb and honey.  Does that affect the feed/don't feed decision?

I wouldn't make much of a different decision on feeding.  Of course, if I have drawn comb I would give the package drawn comb...

[Nugget Shooter]

If the nucs have a flow on, there is plenty of honey, and they're not building comb I don't see any indication to feed at all.

I don't care what forum you belong to, what club you belong to, or what bee keeping class you take, a newbie will get pounded with the need to ALWAYS feed a new hive.  Along with the feed, feed, feed, mentality comes the treat, treat, treat mentality.  It is unavoidable.  A newbie doesn't have any experience to make the judgement on when it is good or when it is bad, until it is too late.

And answers like this is why I came here to learn.... I have learned in my 60 years that when "NEW" to anything the same worries, mistakes, over tending, etc. instincts are the same and these forums allow the ones that have made these mistakes to attempt to steer thos of us "NEW" to this. Fact is fact and sometimes not so pretty, but welcome to this newbee, Thanks to all of you taking the time to hammer info into our sometimes thick skulls 

[Oldbeavo]

My only query is did you find the queen in the main hive and have her separated when you were splitting? If you didn't then I would go to the main hive and check for eggs to make sure the queen survived or you didn't accidently transfer her to one of the nucs. The main hive may have drawn a cell if the queen went missing.
Leave the nucs to do there thing for at least 3 weeks.