giving my bees a boost?

17 years ago

I've just put a very small swarm of bees into a new hive box. I thought they were doing OK for a few days, but today I found a dead bee right on the doorstep (or whatever you call the area where the bees land before entering the hive). I picked up the lid and found fewer than a dozen bees in there. Maybe some were out foraging, but they're still not happy. I'm not even sure they have a queen. What would happen if I look a very small dish, maybe the lid of a wide-mouth juice bottle, filled it with honey and slid it into the hive? Would that give them a little food-boost until they get themselves together, or would it do them harm somehow? Or would it do nothing at all for them?

Comments (4)

ccrb1
17 years ago
One should always feed a newly hived swarm. Such a small swarm may be an afterswarm with a virgin queen. Depending how long they were looking for a home, they could be plenty hungry, and it would be wise to feed them sugar water.

In San Diego, you need to be concerned for their heritage too.
thisbud4u
Original Author
17 years ago
ccrb, thanks for your reply. Sorry for my ignorance, but how do I feed them sugar water? If I put a dish of it out wouldn't they drown themselves in it? Would honey work as well? Thanks!
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hscsusiq
17 years ago
You lost your swarm. They may have moved on or something happened to the queen when she was mating.
If you want a hive, talk to your extension agent and find a beekeeper's group close by who will mentor you. There are some really generous beekeepers who would sell you a going hive (nuc) and get you started in the art.

Here is a link that might be useful: Virginia Country Life
ccrb1
17 years ago
and the question about feeding indicates you have some learning to do. There are "feeders" that allow the bees to feed.