two new hives w/ package bees

[dp]

started two new hives with 4# packages two weeks ago.  It has been pretty cool here but we have a decent flow.  Both hives only have one frame of drawn comb and 8 new frames.  I have been feeding the kajeebers out of them, keeping them in 1:1 sugar water and pollen patties. 

It doesn't appear that they are really going to town building comb.  Also, when I try to see if my lady has been laying brood, there are so many bees on the frame of drawn comb that I can't tell.  Should I sweep them off to look or just relax and assume that all is good?

Both packages have been very active even when the weather is not so special.  Much more active than my established hive.  Any idea why that is?  The established hive has plenty of honey stores which I assume allows them to stay home when the weather is not so great.

[BjornBee]

No or little brood means that bees are free to do what they want. I have opened many hives lately in cooler weather, and was amazed to find three boxes of bees in a otherwise quiet hive with little activity at the entrance, compared to other hives buzzing away. All that brood needs to be kept warm. So sometimes, good amounts of brood just keep the bees inside. This may explain your established hive.

As for wax building, most hives will not draw new wax till the temps are consistently above 65. So they will utilize what you provided first, before using valuable resources making wax.

[iddee]

They will draw comb when the weather gets better and they can bring in more nectar than they consume. You say 1 drawn and 8 undrawn? I think you may be very disappointed when they do draw. You should always use 10 frames when drawing, then reduce to 9 if you want afterward. Drawing with only 9 frames will usually result in a lot of wonky comb.

[BjornBee]

Now is that "wonky" comb, or "honky" comb?   :-D

[iddee]

Either is better than the words you will use when the frames can't be removed without tearing it.  :-P

[BjornBee]

So when that happens, we would then have a "Wonky Honky".  :-D

[dp]

These hive bodies have those "wanky" frame spacers that only allow 9 frames to be installed.  Some stuff I picked up.  Most of mine have 10 frames.  Myself, I like twanky comb!  :lol: