I had several nucs this summer, and a few were slow to draw comb. I fed
them using a division feeder
in the upper brood super. They seemed to take the syrup well, but in at
least one case I noticed that it
wasn't those bees that were taking it - it was another stronger hive that
would start robbing it out. I had
thought that the use of a division feeder reduced the likelihood of robbing
(certainly making it less likely
than using a Boardman feeder).
Once I realized what was going on I moved the nuc to a location where I had
other hives of similar strength.
I could also have added an entrance reducer to make it easier for them to
defend the entrance, but I decided
to move it instead (I still could add a reducer). The literature suggests
that once a hive is being robbed, the
queen may stop laying. I wanted them to be happy - so I moved them.
Curtis Crowell
Hightstown, NJ