Hi,
Because of our poor year some of my hives haven't kicked on as I would have hoped. I would like to go into winter with 2 deeps of bees and stores.
Some of my deeps do not have fully drawn out frames.
I am feeding my hive and wondered if bees draw wax when they are being fed? Or just when there is a flow on?
Cheers
From what I have read they will draw when being fed - perhaps they have slowed down the drawing of comb because of the oncoming winter and queen reducing her laying? I think I read somewhere that 1:1 syrup is used to help draw comb while 2:1 syrup is generally stored (or is it the other way around??)
Don't stress them they have had a hard enough year already.push them down to one box and feed them if you have to.if you have more frames that are full then make one hive 2 high and the other put to bed as a single. To constantly feed them sugar is giving them all the wrong stuff it should only be a substitute.
But yes if you give them enough they will build comb. White brittle comb but yes comb.
Good luck.let know what you decide and how it works for you.
Hopefully we have a few more warmish weeks here in tassie so just trying to build them up a bit more. Its only my second winter and my first with more than 1 hive so i guess I'll learn a fair bit more this winter than last 😊
They draw wax when they need comb. They need comb when none is available (it is either full and capped or doesn't exist) and they need somewhere to store nectar.
Thanks for the replies ☺