Extra comb between frames - first hive inspection

gdoten · April 28, 2012, 02:39:33 PM

Installed a 3# package into my first-ever hive on Monday. Resisted the temptation to open the hive until today. Well, I did peek under the cover each afternoon since I used a top feeder. What a great experience this has been so far. Installing the bees was a trip, and sticking my hand into the pile in the bottom of the box to spread them out just a little so that the frames could be put back is a sensation I won't soon forget! It was also interesting to see the bees feeding from the feeder on Tuesday because it was still only around 50 degrees. But Wednesday as soon as it hit 55-60 degrees the feeder was empty and the bees were presumably out feeding.

Today, 5 days later, was the first inspection. Checked the queen cage and it was empty. But I'm thinking I should have checked the queen a couple of days ago because they have created two big pieces of comb in the space between the two frames that had the queen cage. I help out one of the 10 frames when I put them in on Monday. Do I just take the hive tool and remove those pieces of comb? If so, then just shake the bees on them back into the box, move the frames back together, then add the 10th frame?

Thanks for any guidance!

Kathyp · April 28, 2012, 02:51:58 PM

yes ;)

and make sure they are tight together in the middle of the box.

AllenF · April 28, 2012, 03:14:55 PM

Always keep the frames together without gaps. Remember your bee space rules. Cut out any burr comb before it gets out of control.

Michael Bush · April 29, 2012, 06:57:44 AM

That's what happens when you hang a queen in the hive... Cut it out, push them tightly together in the center.

JackM · April 29, 2012, 09:21:36 AM

Well now, this leaves a question from me. But, I think I will start a whole thread on it of my own.

brooklynbees · April 29, 2012, 09:53:20 AM

I have a similar problem with my 3# install.
I didn't leave a frame out, rather slid the queen cage down between the frames and made sure the frames were all pushed together in the middle. Checked the hive yesterday (one week) and the marked queen is out and about :), so I removed the empty cage. But, the bees have built free form comb on the face of the surrounding frame on top of the foundation -- just in the area where the cage was.
I guess when I pushed the frames together, the cage bowed the foundation on that frames just enough that they decided to use the space to make free form comb. Since its the brood chamber, I think I'll let them keep it for the season.
I also put two full frames of honey and capped brood from my other hive in when I installed the bees. I'm glad I did since its been so wet and cold since the install that the girls weren't actively foraging most of the week. Just taking syrup.

gdoten · April 29, 2012, 12:27:24 PM

OK, that wasn't so bad! Opened the hive this morning, pulled one of the frames with the burr comb, took the hive tool and a deep breath and scraped it off. The big chunk of wax, covered in bees, falls onto the top of the other frames. Picked up the wax and brushed the bees off of it and back into the box. Did the same for the other big piece. I now understand the importance of keeping the frames tightly together.

Still haven't been stung in all of this, and I haven't been wearing gloves. I can see why glove-less is recommended by most; even with my small amount of experience I can see how gloves would have far less finesse.

A bonus was we found the queen and she seems happy and doing her thing. Forgot to look closely for any eggs because we got so excited at finding the queen. Will have to do that next weekend since I don't want to open the hive a third time this weekend. Well I do, but won't!

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. Couple of follow-up questions. There were a couple small pieces of comb in the bottom of the box. I just left it there thinking maybe by having the frames tight together now that they won't do anything with that anymore. Guess I'll find out for sure next weekend. Wise decision?

Michael, when you say "that's what happens when you have a queen in the hive" do you mean that in the sense that the burr comb is just a natural result of hanging the queen cage, because of the extra space it leaves, or do you mean that there's a better (burr-less) way of getting the queen in there.

And AllenF, can't see how to keep the two frames all the way together with a queen cage in between them. Maybe next time I at least have to make sure that the cage is below the wooden bars of the two frames and maybe they will then essentially be tight together?

I'm using frames with foundation in them and it sounds like JackM's new post he mentioned is about foundationless.

Michael Bush · April 30, 2012, 01:52:20 AM

>There were a couple small pieces of comb in the bottom of the box. I just left it there thinking maybe by having the frames tight together now that they won't do anything with that anymore.

I would remove it.

>Michael, when you say "that's what happens when you have a queen in the hive" do you mean that in the sense that the burr comb is just a natural result of hanging the queen cage, because of the extra space it leaves

Yes.

> or do you mean that there's a better (burr-less) way of getting the queen in there.

Yes.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespackages.htm#donthangqueencage

BlueBee · April 30, 2012, 02:08:05 AM

When installing a new queen, I just set the cage on top of the frames and throw on a temporary shim to make space for it. Seems much easier than hanging the cage to me, plus I can easily see when the queen is released and pull the cage and shim. Just another method that can work too.

Glad to hear those bees of yours are going strong gdoten, but what's up with that wimpy avatar :-D