First Foundationless Experiment

[The Bix]

Well, I finally had a day where the weather cooperated and I was able to inspect all 5 of my hives.  I had installed two new Italian packages on Sunday April 18th and I was excited to take a look at their progress.  To my delight, I found both queens and noticed eggs larvae and a small number of capped brood in one of them.  Today being day 9 after install, she didn't waste much time at all and laid eggs almost right away!

When I installed the packages into these hives I also decided to experiment, or more accurately put, "dabble" with foundationless frames.  I installed the packages into 10-frame hives and made divider boards to exclude the girls from the three of frames.  Of the seven frames they had access to, I mostly gave them drawn comb from last year and a couple frames of honey.  In addition though,  I put a single foundationless frame in one of the hives and two in the other.  I had grooved frames... to prep the frames with a starter strip, I sliced some black Rite Cell foundation into ~1.5" strips and "glued" them in with beeswax and nailed them in place too.

Again to my delight the girls were drawing them out perfectly!  I added some pictures, I hope you can see them.  Thanks to Michael Bush for his voluminous website and personalized help!  You da' man Michael!!!  Thanks to my awesome wife who took the pictures!!!



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[Jahjude]

Looking gr8 there Bix,should be proud of your lil ladies :-D