I have a new hive that has been doing great drawn out both brood boxes in no time at all, then I added the med super about 3 weeks ago and they have not touched it. Was wondering if anyone had any tricks to get them drawing out the comb, since I can't move frames up due to the size difference.
Unfortunately, I don't have a good answer for you. Other than you just proved why I only use one size frame.
The bees need pollen to draw out the combs (nectar for honey) so I would mist the frames with 1:1 sugar water and add a pollen patty this time of year (unless you have pollen available. -Mike
Did you use an excluded? Is there a flow in? They don't draw what they don't need.
Quote from: kathyp on August 14, 2015, 06:53:31 PM
Did you use an excluded? Is there a flow in? They don't draw what they don't need.
Good reply.. they dont draw what they dont need.. Even if they are a bit overcrowded they wont draw if theres no flow, and if you put an excluder on they may be seeing it as a barrier.
If they are crowded they could use the room, so pull the excluder and feed them slowly.. three or four holes in a jar or bucket over the top bars for example.. enough for them to think there's a light flow but not enough for them to store and plug up your frames with syrup.
Heat also helps.
Try putting a frame in brood box. Sometimes this works.
Thanks for the replies. No excluder on. And we should be coming in to our fall flow. I like the spaying 1/1 idea. Think I will try that. At first I was optimistic I might get fall honey from this first year hive but I don't know now. I was just kinda wanting to try to get some of the super frames drawn out as a head start on next year.
Are you in a death....if yes is the answer.... be careful spraying 1:1. May get more than you bargain for :sad:
you are going into the fall flow? Around here, it seems like the bees don't want to draw much new wax during the fall flow. It's like the hit a wall and decide it's time to stop expanding and concentrate on consolidating and prepping what they have for winter. Sounds like you could ride through the winter with those 2 boxes, and the hit the ground running next season.
Last spring I melted down and painted the old wax on my foundation frames. Worked like a charm - just like on you tube.