Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: EOHenry on May 07, 2007, 11:37:21 PM

Title: Mis-shaped comb
Post by: EOHenry on May 07, 2007, 11:37:21 PM
This is a question for the old timers.  When you find mis-shaped comb on a frame, do you pull the whole frame out and replace it with new foundation or try to scrape out the bad comb and hope they will build it straight?  With my inspection today, I found  1 - 2 frames that were a little worpped or bowed and they had made comb at a right angle that had brood in it and was capped. I left it in as I did not have more frames or foundation with me.  It seems a waste to pull the frame that has pollen and some necter along with some brood already in it.  I tried to pust it straight, but it would not stay.

Thanx!

EOHenry
Title: Re: Mis-shaped comb
Post by: Kathyp on May 07, 2007, 11:44:04 PM
i don't get to wigged out about mis-shaped comb in the brood boxes.  the problem with warped comb is that it may keep the brood from hatching out, or the queen from laying in it.  i pulled some comb earlier this spring and found dead emerging brood.  i had lost the whole hive, but that particular brood had been trapped between two bad frames and were stuck.  you may also have a problem with sagging brood comb if it's not in the frames well. 

some of my comb from last year needed some repair.  i took a knife and cut out the bad bits and the bees rebuilt it.  they are pretty good at fixing the things i screw up  :-)



Title: Re: Mis-shaped comb
Post by: Michael Bush on May 08, 2007, 12:19:37 AM
If it's totally out of line, I scrap it.  If it's a little crooked I don't worry about it.  If it's in the honey supers, I just wait and harvest it.