BEE-L Archives

Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

BEE-L@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Peter de Bruyn Kops <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:36:48 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (23 lines)
>That does remind me, though that I have heard reports that California
>beekeepers are feeding Global's patties _on the bottom board_ in warm
>weather with good success.

This sounds reasonable as long as the colonies are not weak.  In a strong
hive in summer, nurse bees will walk much farther than a few inches to get
pollen.  Consider a brood nest in three deeps with only a bottom entrance --
most of the pollen will be in the bottom box yet it does get eaten.  IMO,
the factors affecting in-hive feeding include (a) the right bees have to
find the feed, (b) the route has to be warm enough, and (c) it has to seem
worth the effort (to the bee).  To the extent we can reduce the amount of
time the nurse bees spend walking, we presumably increase colony efficiency.

For colonies with brood in two boxes, I've found it most effective to put
patties between the two boxes.  When putting patties on the top bars, it
helps to have insulated covers (at least in cool weather) and it also helps
if the brood comes all the way up to those top bars.

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************

ATOM RSS1 RSS2