All drone comb on foundationless frame

[gov1623]

I put some foundationless frames in a couple of hives that have plastic foundation in them last week and one hive is building all drone comb. I'm only putting one frame in at a time and my question is how many frames it usually takes until they start building worker comb? And do i keep the drone comb in until they start building worker sized comb?

[Vance G]

Yes keep the drone comb in or they will never get enough and will keep building it.  You will know when they have enough, they will quit building it.  Then cut out the first drone comb built if it is capped and help control your mites.  I saw the same thing happen last spring in my hives!  It is hard not to give up on it. 

[hardwood]

Don't worry about it. When they're done raising drones in the larger cells they will use them for storage.

Scott

[FRAMEshift]

Then cut out the first drone comb built if it is capped and help control your mites. 

Vance, as you have pointed out, if you remove the drone comb, they will build more.  So if you cut out that drone comb, won't they spend more time and energy drawing new drone comb? 

If you stick that drone comb in the freezer overnight, you will kill the drone pupae (and the mites).  When you put it back in the hive the bees will then clean those cells and reuse the comb, either for more drones or for honey storage.

[Vance G]

Your right I guess.  I just wonder if it is not false economy saving the comb when it's going to cost an extra operation for me and hauling out seven thousand bodies has to take time too.  I guess if it is convienient I would take them home, but I can't see it as a huge deal either way if you are sacrificing drones for mite control. 

[Michael Bush]

The typical hive with natural comb has between 10% and  25% drone comb.  After they get the number of drones they want they will backfill the drone comb with honey, especially if it's on the outside edges of the brood nest.

[T Beek]

The typical hive with natural comb has between 10% and  25% drone comb.  After they get the number of drones they want they will backfill the drone comb with honey, especially if it's on the outside edges of the brood nest.

Which is why many beeks regularly move drone comb to the outsides or above as they see it forming.  This practice also assists w/ KYBO or Keeping Your Broodnests Open  :)

thomas

[gov1623]

Thanks for all the comments!!!!

[jaseemtp]

I have noticed a good amount of drone comb too, but I was looking at letting the girls raise them up and let the flood my area with my drones.  Should I be moving the drone comb to the outside even if its still getting cool at night? 

[T Beek]

Depends on your individual beekeeping philosophy IMO.  Leaving them or manipulating them are both fine with me.  But leaving them may result in them leaving you  ;).  Personally I'd rather protect the workers and any emerging worker brood.  If drones are needed and they've been chilled they'll just make more.

The 2 things I always do upon entering my hives, besides a general check for disease or distress is;

1.  Do I have eggs and larva?

2.  Is there room for all the bees (to come)? 

If they seem crowded or about to become so based on brood patterns,  I immediately make room.  Because of its size moving drone comb around is easy (to see) and takes very little time to adjust to outside or top positions, whereby you can then replace those drone frames w/ empties, giving your bees something else to do besides preparing to swarm.

thomas

[Michael Bush]

>Should I be moving the drone comb to the outside even if its still getting cool at night? 

I wouldn't move them where they are no longer in the brood nest, just so they are on the outside edge of the brood nest.  This is where they usually build drone comb naturally.  It was the gap in the brood nest at a time they need drone comb that causes them to build it in the middle of the brood nest.