OK. I'm being dim. Why should I have a Porter bee escape on now? I'm not trying to get any honey off - I haven't even got a super on (except as a lift to make room for the top feeder).
we've got a glass quilt rather than a cover board betwixt top of super and roof and the gap in it is porter bee escape sized.
Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 8407 Location: South Cornwall
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 08 7:23 am Post subject:
With regards to mouseguards your normal entrance block should keep them out as long as its not loose & can be pulled out easily.
Feeding now 2/1 syrup should be fine but you will be suprised how much nectar & pollen they will bring in from the ivy.
A nucleus on 5 frames will only need 1/2 as much stores as a full colony so I wouldn't get to worried.
Also if you pack a colony with sugar there is more risk of it getting into next years honey crop.
If there is a surplus left in the brood box in the spring when the queen needs more laying room the workers will move it up to the supers adulterating your first honey crop.
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5059 Location: ceredigion
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 08 9:42 am Post subject:
TAVASCAROW wrote:
If there is a surplus left in the brood box in the spring when the queen needs more laying room the workers will move it up to the supers adulterating your first honey crop.
This was a mistake we made the first year Last year was the first time I'd had to give a hive fondant---it's not ideal as the bees need to get fluid to process it and they have to produce extra saliva etc, which isn't ideal in a colony that might already be stressed through stores shortage---I was worried about stores this year and piling what they'd take in---but the sudden nice weather and the very abundant ivy this year is turning things round.
joanne
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 7100 Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 08 10:53 am Post subject:
Mandy - I wouldn't be worrying too much - I haven't even taken off my supers yet and I didn't last year until the end of September - The old rules don't seem to apply at the moment - I'd keep feeding them the sugar until the weather goes significantly colder - I think they can't process sugar solution if the daytime temp is below 8C - we are nowhere near that yet
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5059 Location: ceredigion
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 08 1:22 pm Post subject:
jocorless wrote:
Mandy - I wouldn't be worrying too much - I haven't even taken off my supers yet and I didn't last year until the end of September - The old rules don't seem to apply at the moment - I'd keep feeding them the sugar until the weather goes significantly colder - I think they can't process sugar solution if the daytime temp is below 8C - we are nowhere near that yet
Do you leave supers on while you're using Apiguard then?
Last year was the first time I'd had to give a hive fondant---it's not ideal as the bees need to get fluid to process it and they have to produce extra saliva etc, which isn't ideal in a colony that might already be stressed through stores shortage---I was worried about stores this year and piling what they'd take in---but the sudden nice weather and the very abundant ivy this year is turning things round. 
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