Anybody in Australia can PLEAZZZZZZ give me some advice?
G'day Helene, welcome.
Been busy with my own 'problems' so I come in late in saying I am not
certain what you look for in being advised now, a bit late in my book.
Maybe one reason why no Aussie has assisted so far is in it is not practice
in this Country to do startups with packages - baaad JuJu.
The concept is lifted from Ewetoob, arguably not applicable anywhere
on the Planet, but it happens bigtime in the USA as do the upwards of 47%
death rates which feed the package industry.
Packages here are sometimes used to boost numbers for colonys post dearth
but this too is highly selective.
If you caught that ABC TV "Honey Challenge" the other week you would have
seen firsthand what happened with the package startup option.
Enough said.
December is too late to do a startup.
Feeding startups lollywater (syrup) is a huge mistake.
Yes, the package bees are now superseded and what you are left with is a poorly
established colony, veins packed with sugar, and likely bees struggling under
current summer conditions.
Good news?
At least they are still alive and reading as setting some brood, you got lucky.
For now, remove the super, take out any undrawn or drawn less than 60% framed
from the broodchamber, replacing the void with tightly rolled newspaper in a
shoppingbag...and wait.
Hopefully no other colony under pressure does not attack them or pests overtake
the low numbers. The sun is moving North and so it wont be so long before the
first of blooms post Summer popup - that's your window to add back those frames
and hope for sufficient stores to come on board for a Sydney winter.
Enough?
Cheers.
Bills