Does this look ok?

jmblakeney · May 10, 2011, 12:47:46 AM

Hello all,
I was going through my bee tree hive today. These bees were hived 4-13-2011. They appear to be doing really good but I would like your opinion. I only had them in one medium and when they started to fill out really well i added another medium. After a week or so they were still not moving up. I read up a lil on adding boxes and decide to pyramid a few brood frames up in the second box. This seems to have worked well as they are now occupying the second box and starting to draw out new foundationless frames in the second one. The following is a pic of a foundationless frame they have filled out well.

Here is the whole frame.

Left side of same frame.

Right side of same frame.

After this inspection, and in particular this frame, I have a few questions.
1. Does the frame in general look OK?
2. Is it normal for the drone cells to be grouped and on the outside.
3. The brood pattern appears to be "OK" to me, but why are they putting nectar in the cells sporadically throughout the brood? This would, I think, restrict the queen from laying. Is this b/c they aren't building new comb fast enough and just storing where they can?
4. I thought that they usually stored honey up top then a thin layer of pollen then brood. This one is just a very thick layer of pollen and brood. Why would that be?

Thanks for all your help,
I just love this place.

James

JP · May 10, 2011, 12:52:47 AM

James, bees will often place honey around the edges of brood frames. Your frame looks normal, just keep an eye on them and be certain they have enough space.

...JP

VolunteerK9 · May 10, 2011, 12:30:45 PM

Looks like your hives have a rare and highly infectious disease. I'll be up there pronto to take them off your hands as a favor :evil:

All looks well to me. Enjoy

jmblakeney · May 10, 2011, 07:28:22 PM

Thanks JP and K9,
So everything looks good. I am still wondering why they are storing nectar in the open spots where the brood should be. And, why did they not store honey around the top edge of this frame?

Maybe it doesn't really matter but it just made me wonder why this frame is different than other pics I've seen.

Thanks for your help guys.

James

njoylife10 · May 10, 2011, 07:50:15 PM

My only concern would be that they are only attaching to your starter strip and not combing over it. So instead of them having the space of a medium frame it looks like they are at about a small super size frame. Be sure you give them some extra space for winter stores to factor in the loss of storage space, depending on where you are from. Texas would need less stores than say Michigan.

Just trying to help

njoylife10

Michael Bush · May 10, 2011, 11:31:04 PM

Looks like they built it from the bottom up.

jmblakeney · May 10, 2011, 11:50:02 PM

Micheal,
It actually was built top down as normal but from a newbie to experienced beek, what do you see that makes you say that? Is it because of the way it looks on the starter strip? Like they are just now going up on it.

Thanks,
James

VolunteerK9 · May 11, 2011, 12:03:54 AM

Quote from: jmblakeney on May 10, 2011, 11:50:02 PM
Like they are just now going up on it.

Thanks,
James

Yeah, because they build from the top down. Just keep a watch on it to see if your starter strip eventually gets covered over. Nothing to be real concerned with though. Come on tell the truth..how many oh crap moments have you had turning the frame sideways to look it over and then notice your comb sagging sideways where it was not attached?

bailey · May 11, 2011, 02:20:14 AM

the starter strip looks like it comes down too far, mine dont extend down that far and i dont see that type attachment with the shorter strips.

the brood and he comb that is there is great but they will need to build in over the starter strip to firmly anchor that comb.

Bailey.

JP · May 11, 2011, 09:32:30 AM

For some reason I thought this was a foundationless (frame) whereby the comb section had fallen down into the frame because of a combination of weight/heat but now I see that white starter strip at the top, over looked it completely somehow! Go ahead bud, make fun of my eyes, didn't have my spectacles on I guesss! :-D

I agree with the others, wayyyyyyyy too much starter strip. A smidgeon is all you need extending downward.

...JP

Michael Bush · May 11, 2011, 09:40:26 AM

I see it's a coroplast starter...

jmblakeney · May 11, 2011, 09:57:59 AM

Quote from: JP on May 11, 2011, 09:32:30 AM
Go ahead bud, make fun of my eyes, didn't have my spectacles on I guesss!

I used to make fun of stuff like that, not to be mean but just to get a laugh, now I dont anymore due to I have too much stuff for others to poke fun at with myself :-D
What comes around goes around :-D

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 11, 2011, 09:40:26 AM
I see it's a coroplast starter...

.
Michael, it is a starter strip. This was one of the first ones I built back in the winter. I now just flip the wedge on the top bar. I think it's much easier and faster that way.