My bees don't respect bee space.

[Mklangelo]

They build comb in between the bottom of the upper frames and the tops of the lower ones.  It's usually drones they make down there.  I understand that the making of drones is a sign of wealth so that's great.  It's just a mess.  They also build comb from the outside of the outer frames to the sides of the box even though it's almost an inch away.  I have the self spacing frames and I pack them tight together and center the group of them.

Is it normal for them to always be trying to connect things that are more than the famous 3/8 of an inch away?



:-)

[Michael Bush]

When the hive is crowded, yes.  You might also measure what space is actually there.  Many boxes are not to specs.

[JP]

Could always send them to obeedience school. :-D

[wayne]

  I would seperate the frames by eye to an even spread across the box. The bees will deepen the cells to take up the wider space. I've seen cells an inch or more deep on each side of the frame.

[jl]

mine do the same.  don't know why either.

[rdy-b]

are your self spacing frames plastic?RDY-B

[Mklangelo]

  I would seperate the frames by eye to an even spread across the box. The bees will deepen the cells to take up the wider space. I've seen cells an inch or more deep on each side of the frame.

But they still draw out to the sides of the boxes and doing what you say will only decrease that space. 

They are the standard wooden 9 1/8 inch hive frames from Dadant.  At the top of the frames is a small out cropping of wood designed to separate the frames properly when pushed together. 

It is pretty crowded in there, even during what should be prime foraging time.  But then again, they aren't doing a thing in the super that's been on top for 2+ weeks, which leads me to think they aren't hurting for space.

[Mklangelo]

When the hive is crowded, yes.  You might also measure what space is actually there.  Many boxes are not to specs.

I'll measure tomorrow.  It should be 9 5/8"  deep and the inside dimensions should be 14 3/4" front length and 18 3/8" side length.




The bees are doing that in all the hives, I'd sure be surprised if everything I bought from Dadant is out of spec.


:-)

[Mklangelo]

Could always send them to obeedience school. :-D

The bees don't need the training, I do... LOL

[rdy-b]

 I suspect the side frames are not all drawn out. try switching with one that is fully drawn (dont use one with brood) is the honey supper drawn out yet. sometimes its just a matter of getting all your wax drawn so the bees can utilize bee space anything over 3/8 will get bur or brace during this process. after its drawn burr will still persist over 3/8   Hope this helps RDY-B

[Michael Bush]

If they are out of spec they will ALL be out of spec.

[Mklangelo]

I suspect the side frames are not all drawn out. try switching with one that is fully drawn (dont use one with brood) is the honey supper drawn out yet. sometimes its just a matter of getting all your wax drawn so the bees can utilize bee space anything over 3/8 will get bur or brace during this process. after its drawn burr will still persist over 3/8   Hope this helps RDY-B

According to what I'm reading here, I think it's just burr or brace comb.  It's not like they are fully connecting things.  Just bits here and there. 

But in the two more advanced hives, they do have all 20 frames in the two brood boxes fully drawn out.