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what does it mean if a hive isnt drinking sugar water? i have had about a gallon on a hive for 2 weeks and i would day that they have maybe drunk about 1/4 of it if that. its a small one hive body hive.

It means here is a flow going on. They prefer nectar. Put the sugar away.

thats what i was thinking. thanks!

Or maybe it has soured. We have had a few hot days.

There is a good flow as well in certain locations. I know of a hive that has filled a super and begun capping it.

My puzzle is a late season one that I plan on solving later today. I have kept a couple of quart jars of sugar water about 50 feet behind my hives for a couple of weeks. This morning when it was 42 degrees a few bees met me as I put out full jars. Only 1 hive was flying at that time and temperature. They have had good stores, but I am going to check again this afternoon when the temperature is above 60 degrees. I want to see if the most enthusiastic hive for sugar water is the one most in need of stores or if they just like cooler weather.

I've kept the jars of sugar water going and several of my hives will go to it if it is 42 degrees or warmer and sunny. The hive I was looking at in October had good stores. My hives get full sun for several hours even on December 21st, and seem to stay active going to the sugar water. The 8 hives and a nuc may or may not empty 2 quart jars depending on how early in the day it hits 42. At this point, the feeding is more for my pleasure at seeing the bees fly and less for winter supplies (I hope).

Rob,
It was not clear to me if you were able to answer your queston.
"I want to see if the most enthusiastic hive for sugar water is the one most in need of stores or if they just like cooler weather."

The hive I was concerned about had good stores. They were just more enthusiastic than the other hives.