Everything I've been reading is when you split is feed, feed,feed and I'm assuming that's for starter strips or new foundation.
Not quite. It assumes there is not enough resources in the hive to make a good queen. I do not feed. I make sure there is enough honey in the hive or the timing is such that there is a good flow. Now that I am in FL I will have to learn the new timing.
Mikey, I have heard and read the same as you in the situation that if you want to help the new splits get off to a running start.(thrive), you must Make sure that they have the resources readly available to feed and build comb etc. Sock the sugar water to them! Ace is probabaly on the money assuming the splits are made in the middle of a flow. I guess this depends on each individuals place of residents and time of year. As you might have read here in other post. I made some (really late) fall splits during the time of goldenrod. I took no chance going into winter by not feeding
Even though the goldenrods were booming. They built up very fast, including drawing out comb. I added tea tree oil, wintergreen, and spearmint essential oil to the sugar water as advised by at least 3 breeders. Two from Georgia, one from Indiana. Each one gave me the same good advise. These late season splits not only survived the winter but thrived during the winter and thus far. Even now the Nucs are booming, In fact I have already had to add a second box on all seven and on one of these, a third box, along with converting one over to a ten frame, and just yesterday had to add another 10 frame on top of the one. Now take into consideration, just a couple weeks ago it was to cold to open the boxes. This is how wonderfully they are building and how fast. Let me add, I also feed, in open feeders ultra bee as advised by these same three breeders, including the Indiana breeder which is in even colder weather than am I And with the good advise of LIVE OAK.
On the warmer days, they would fly out and take advantage of this supplement. Honestly, I didn't realize that bees would fly in the winter as this was my first winter with bees, but I noticed, as taking notes, anytime the tempatures would approach 50 they would COVER the pollen supplement. I have also noticed that since natural pollen, that they are finding, has caused them to TOTALLY lose interest in the pollen substitute. Good luck!
Phillip
