I have really messed up comb in the hive

[danmcph]

I am new to this.  Some of you may remember me as the person who lost my queen while installing in the hive.

I just checked my new hives and when I took the frame out the bees weren't making the comb directly on the foundation.  they have built comb that arches away from the foundation and then they are working on both sides of the comb.  This allows them to crawl between the foundation and the arched out comb and enter in from the back.

I know that if the frames are kept close together they don't do this.  I bought the supers from Mann and they are 10 frames.  I have 10 in the supers and it looks like there is too much space between frames so they are doing this.  I can't fit an 11th frame in.  What do I do?  How do I fix it.  It may not be a real big deal on these supers as they are the ones that will have the brood.  I definatly don't want this happening in the honey supers.

[wd]

I pull all 10 frames tight and center them. 11 won't fit as is.

Do you have any with drawn straight comb? Place an empty frame between those.

I cant see them so I'm not sure how big the comb sections are or whats in them. If possible, using foundationless frames, I would cut the comb and tie them in a frame like a cut out. rubber bands or cotton string.

In the past, others glued a small piece of comb in the top corner of a frame with wax as the starter strip. I haven't tried it yet. about to though - in the center. On top bar hives, some take a piece of comb and make sort of a hammock out of cloth then gently tie it to the center of the frame. The cloth is left on long enough for the bees to glue the comb in place then carefully removed.



I'll probably add a 3/4 inch guide on both sides before its put a hive.

[peter]

we have a young hive, a new swarm, and I put them in an old box that had foundationless frames in it. They have built combes randomly through it so I was wondering if I should cut out the combes  and run an electrical current through the wires on a foundationless frame, enough to make them hot, and melt the combes into position.  PLEASE HELP!!!

[Grieth]

Some pictures would really help here.  Without pictures it is really hard to assess what you are describing and how bad it is.  Looking forward to your next post.

[Kathyp]

both of you take a deep breath.  wonky comb is only wonky to us.  your bees are not in danger.

first poster, 11 frames are not meant to go in there.  it's a 10 frame hive.  there will be some space extra in most hives.  push the frames together in the center and leave any spare space to the sides.
what kind of foundation are you using? 
if the comb has nothing but stores in it, remove it and let the bees rob it out.  if the comb has brood and you can remove it and put it in an empty frame (see cutouts in removal section) do that.  if you can do neither, start to move the bad comb frames toward the outside and replace with new foundation in middle.  this will take A LONG TIME. so don't rush it or you'll lose brood.  as the center frames fill and the sides hatch, move the frames.  eventually the bad frames get to the outside, or are empty of brood and you can pull them and replace.

peter, see info on placing comb in frames from a cutout...removal forum.  there are also good pictures in the Bud3 album.  basically, you will cut out the messed up comb, and keeping it oriented to the comb as it was when you cut it, you will rubber band it back into the frame.  the bees will reattach it.

[wd]

The questions appear to have been answered. Some of it's on the spot decisions and some brood may be lost. A pic would be nice. I haven't looked at bud3's photo album. I don't know where it's at. can you provide a link?

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/board,77.0.html - removals

[Brian D. Bray]

Bee boxes are built with extra interior room for 2 reasons:
1. Manipulation of frames.
2. Accommodate build up of propolis.

When the propolis buildup gets to the point it is difficult to remove or replace frames scrape the edges of the end bars free of propolis.  It is best to keep the buildup of propolis on the end bars as little as possible by scraping the end bars during each inspection but there are always times when conditions or circumstances just doesn't allow it.

[Kathyp]

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,32303.0.html

[peter]

What do you mean by rubber banding???

[wd]

I pretty sure JP has some photos. there's the videos of removals, it's the same principles, people do still use cotton string to hold comb in. it's a matter of choice