drones

[newguy]

i added some frames with starter strips and got all drone comb.  in two hives i got the same result. i wanted cut comb and got very large comb in which the queen layed drones. in one hive she came up to the 4th box just for drones, no worker brood. i guess i can use this for mite romoval but its not what i expected to find, also they didnt attach the comb to the bottom of the frames, is there a trick to get them to do this so the comb isnt so fragile. thanks

[wtiger]

If the bees don't have enough places to put drones in the brood box they will put them anywhere they can fit them.  Obviously they want more drone cells in the brood area, but can't do it.  I find that brood combs are very slowly attached if ever attached at the sides and bottoms with just starter strips, but honey frames are attached immediately.

[Understudy]

The bees know what they need.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

I leave the drone combs on the outside edges of one of the brood boxes.  Once they have enough drones they will fill them with honey.  Once they have enough drone comb, they will stop drawing it.

[Zoot]

All of my early starter strip from June and July were built out as drone comb and large storage comb (the drones are HUGE). But the ones I put in my brood chambers have all have smaller cells and are full of brood now. Going to try extracting some of the starter strip frames this weekend.