Feeding a New Nuc: When, What and How Long to Feed
Feeding a newly installed nucleus colony can help it establish, but a new nuc does not automatically need feeding.
Whether you should feed depends on the colony's existing stores, the amount of natural forage available, the weather, and whether the bees still need to draw foundation in their new hive.
This article forms part of our guide to Your First Weeks with a Nucleus Colony.
Should I Feed a New Nuc?
Sometimes, but not as a matter of routine.
When you transfer a nuc into its full-sized hive, the colony should already have some food stores on its existing frames. If the weather is favourable and plenty of nectar is coming into the hive, those stores may be sufficient while the colony establishes.
Feeding can be useful when:
- poor weather prevents regular foraging
- there is little nectar available
- stores are becoming light
- the colony needs to draw foundation on the new frames surrounding the nuc
The aim is to support the colony when it needs it, rather than feed simply because the nuc is new.
What Should I Feed a New Nuc?
If supplementary feeding is needed during spring or summer, we generally use 1:1 sugar syrup.
This is made using equal quantities of white granulated sugar and water by weight.
Allow the syrup to cool completely before giving it to the bees, and use a feeder suitable for your hive.
Avoid spilling syrup around the hive or apiary, as this can encourage robbing by other colonies.
How Much Should I Feed?
There isn't a fixed amount that every new nuc should receive.
Small amounts that can be monitored are preferable to simply filling a large feeder and leaving it. Check how quickly the colony is taking the syrup and continue to assess its stores and progress during inspections.
The objective isn't to build up large quantities of stored syrup. It is to give the colony enough support to continue developing when natural forage isn't sufficient.
How Long Should You Feed a New Nuc?
Again, there isn't a set number of days or weeks.
Continue feeding only while there is a reason to do so. That might be while poor weather is restricting forage, while stores remain light, or while the colony is actively drawing the new foundation around the original nuc frames.
As natural forage improves, the new comb is drawn, and the colony has adequate stores, feeding can normally be reduced and stopped.
The condition of the colony is a better guide than the calendar.
When Should I Stop Feeding?
Consider stopping when:
- bees are bringing in plenty of nectar
- the colony has adequate stores
- the additional brood frames are being drawn successfully
- weather and forage conditions are good
Regular inspections will tell you much more than following a predetermined feeding schedule.
Be particularly careful about continuing to feed heavily once the bees no longer need it. Syrup can be stored in cells that would otherwise be available for the queen to lay in.
What If the Bees Aren't Taking the Syrup?
Bees not taking syrup doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.
If natural forage is plentiful, they may simply prefer the nectar available outside the hive. Cooler temperatures can also affect how readily syrup is taken.
Look at the colony as a whole rather than judging it by the feeder alone. Stores, brood development, comb drawing, and foraging activity give a better indication of whether the nuc is progressing normally.
Feeding and Your First Inspections
Your early inspections are the best opportunity to assess whether feeding is still necessary.
Look at the amount of stored food available, whether new foundation is being drawn, and whether the brood nest is expanding steadily.
Our Your First Inspection guide explains what to look for during these early checks.
Feeding a new nuc is best thought of as short-term support when the colony needs it, rather than a standard part of installing every nuc.
As the colony becomes established, the next question is often when it needs additional space.
→ Read: When to Add a Super