Drawing comb

[Flycaster]

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

[PhilK]

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??)

[Honeycomb king]

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.

[Flycaster]

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 😊

[Michael Bush]

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.

[Flycaster]

Thanks for the replies ☺