Crazy Comb

leechmann · May 25, 2010, 05:52:10 PM

What should a person do if the bees are drawing out comb, but it's not a good pattern, or the way you would perfer it. My bees are drawing out the comb, very nicely in some hives, but a couple of hives are really a mess. I hate to cut the comb out of there and make them start over, but the way it is now, I won't be able to separated about 4 of the frames as they are all connected every which way.

AllenF · May 25, 2010, 06:00:48 PM

Cut it out and fix it for them. Use rubber bands to stick in the frames right. If it don't have brood in it, I tend to just toss it. If honey, I chew on it right there if there is not to much.

Kathyp · May 25, 2010, 06:03:03 PM

also double check that your frames are pushed tightly together. to much space gives them a chance to get creative :-D

iddee · May 25, 2010, 06:27:39 PM

Use foundation..... :D :D

Kathyp · May 25, 2010, 06:30:33 PM

come on now....they will draw wonky comb on foundation too.

AllenF · May 25, 2010, 06:43:40 PM

Too much space between the frames even with foundation, and they will double the foundation with comb and make a mess to throw out.

leechmann · May 25, 2010, 07:10:42 PM

The frames are tight together. The problem is they are new and there is some room between the undrawn foundation. I think I'm going to cut out the bad stuff and hope they do it right the second time.

AllenF · May 25, 2010, 08:11:31 PM

Look into starter strips in your frames to help the bees out.

tim adams · May 25, 2010, 08:18:05 PM

I would take the 4 frames out and replace them with new frames and foundations then cut the messed up stuff and put new foundation it them to use later.
Tim Adams

slacker361 · May 25, 2010, 09:40:46 PM

so do you support the idea of 9 frames in a ten frame box?

AllenF · May 25, 2010, 09:44:40 PM

Change over to 9 frame only after the frames are drawn out with wax in with 10 frames. (Been there, redone it later). They will screw it up with too much bee space between frames.

slacker361 · May 25, 2010, 09:52:30 PM

good to know thanks

iddee · May 25, 2010, 11:53:53 PM

Always 10 frames in brood boxes.

9 frames of drawn comb in honey supers only, then evenly spaced.

Michael Bush · May 26, 2010, 02:37:43 AM

Now if only she used foundation... oh, I guess she did use foundation... Some bees just don't want to draw straight comb. Sometimes it's plastic foundation. Sometimes it's just the bees. Others won't mess things up no matter how much you mess it up...

But frames tightly together is the first hint...

asprince · May 15, 2011, 07:39:15 PM

Dug up this old topic because I spent the day working my bees and I am disgusted with so many of them. Crazy comb everywhere. Some hives are perfect some screwed up. No reason. I scraped off comb and told the queen to hire some new engineers.

Steve

AllenF · May 15, 2011, 07:45:33 PM

Did your frames have foundation or starter strips?

Michael Bush · May 16, 2011, 11:20:09 AM

>so do you support the idea of 9 frames in a ten frame box?
http://bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#framespacing
http://bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#messedupcomb
http://bushfarms.com/beesframewidth.htm

asprince · May 17, 2011, 06:16:38 AM

I use foundation and put 10 frames in a 10 frame box and jam them together. The foundation is wax coated. Like I said, some will be crazy and some will be perfect.

Steve

Course Bee · May 17, 2011, 09:56:32 AM

Mine did that to last year. I just scraped off the odd stuff and they then they drew out the frame like I wanted them to. Their just like my ten year old. He always has to try it his way first.

audmcdon · May 25, 2011, 12:21:52 AM

I am also having problems with this crazy comb business for two of my frames of brood. I have been hesitant to scrape off the comb as I don't want to kill all the brood. I have moved the two connected frames over slightly to try and dissuade the queen from laying there, but should I just go ahead and scrape everything off now?