Question: Assuming all is right with the colony and there is ample food, no dearth to speak of how long would/should it take for a colony to create sufficient honey comb from vigin foundation? (Wax, not plasticell if it matters) I am using both small and medium supers.
Thank-you many muches!
Hannah-Davida
:-D
I've always hear with a large workforce and a good flow they can fill up a deep in 1 week. I've only personally seen them draw out about 1/2 of a medium in a week.
I have only one data point, for what it is worth. Hived a package April 20 in 10-frame deep with wax foundation. May 20, 8 frames were drawn, added second deep. June 15, 4 frames in second deep drawn. July 2, 8 frames in second deep drawn. July 12, 10 frames drawn. Put medium super on top, 2 frames of foundation, remaining frames foundationless with wedge removed and nailed in the top. Haven't checked since then. Feeding sugar syrup almost continuously since hiving. My understanding is that comb building varies with the seasons, temperatures, regions, nectar flow, strain of bee, and the bees need for comb. People on the forum with multiple hives report variance among their hives.
eri I think that pretty well sums up every bit of reading I've done on the subject over the past month in one small paragraph. Well put.
That's exactly what I needed to know. Thank-you!
There are far too many dependencies. A strong hive with an empty frame put in the middle of a brood nest in a good flow will draw it overnight. A struggling hive that has other priorities won't draw it at all.