On my initial (2 week) inspection of our two hives which were started from packages 26 days ago, showed everything OK except for a few bumps in the comb, which I trimmed, but dropped a small bit between center frames... Today's inspection showed some more of the bumps, which I trimmed, but when I got to the center frames, I found that they have built a rather large comb on the bottom screen... I assume that this must come out, but being a newbee am not sure how best to remove it without removing about 4 frames and shoveling it out... It appears to be nearly saucer sized but does not touch the frames... Any advise will be greatly appreciated... Thanks... Tom
This comb is on the bottom of the frame and the top of the screen, right? Are your bees crowded? Make sure they have enough space on top. I really don't worry about burr comb much unless it get's in the way or just looks bad. The bur comb in a ladder to get up to the frame above.
I would remove the hive body and sit it on the top to get to the bottom board screen, but it needs to come out IMHO.
Tim Adams
a saucer size comb being built up from the bottom i assume between frames. are the frames it is between drawn I am thinking you have a problem with bee space are your frames pushed tightly together what is the distance from your screened bottom board to the bottom of the frames they may be building a ladder to get to the frames if there is to much space. I would remove the frames and remove the comb. if they keep building it and there is no apparent reason i wopuld leave it and move on the bees will always win an arguement between themselves and a keeper.
Quote from: riverrat on May 25, 2010, 08:16:54 PM
a saucer size comb being built up from the bottom i assume between frames. are the frames it is between drawn I am thinking you have a problem with bee space are your frames pushed tightly together what is the distance from your screened bottom board to the bottom of the frames they may be building a ladder to get to the frames if there is to much space. I would remove the frames and remove the comb. if they keep building it and there is no apparent reason i wopuld leave it and move on the bees will always win an arguement between themselves and a keeper.
No... The small saucer/hand section of comb is flat across the bottom screen/board and doesn't touch the frames...
thats odd never had that happen or seen it an any cutouts are you sure some how a piece of new comb didnt fall from one of the frames this is a new one on me
Quote from: riverrat on May 25, 2010, 11:33:54 PM
thats odd never had that happen or seen it an any cutouts are you sure some how a piece of new comb didnt fall from one of the frames this is a new one on me
As I said originally, a small piece of comb did fall to the bottom... They just "improved on it"...