Burr comb or cross comb?

Started by BumbbleBee, April 20, 2014, 12:56:11 PM

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BumbbleBee

Is this a burr comb or a cross comb?

Spear

I'm new this whole beekeeping thing but I would say the comb being built on the bottom of the frame is burr comb.
Cross comb is what I'm getting in my hives where the bees build comb to join two frames together. It makes a real mess when inspecting the hives as is most often filled with honey... STICKY!!!

BumbbleBee

#2
Thank you. I think I saw something like what you said in the brood chamber.

How to make the bees move out the place to trim the burr part? I don't have a brush. I never used smoker on the bees.

HomeSteadDreamer

blow on them or don't move them.  Just take your hive tool scape off the bottom slowly and firmly. I usually do that over a little aluminum tray. Place the tray near the hive they'll find their way back home and if there is any pollen or honey the bees will take that out.  Next day ball it up and put it with your wax to melt.

Wolfer

The bees use this as a ladder to get between boxes. I take it out if it's a problem but if not I leave it.
If you don't have any drone comb this is where they'll build it.

BumbbleBee

Thank you, mates.

@Wolfer,
The bees filled honey in the burr comb. Maybe it's to use as a bridge between the boxes.

@HomeSteadDreamer
OK. I'll try that out with a knife tomorrow and share what happens.

Kathyp

it does no harm and is most often used for drone brood.

cross comb is most often cause by beekeeper error.  most common error is to not push the frames close together toward the middle of the box.  any excess space should be at the walls of the box, not between frames.

a sharp bread knife will cut it.  the only cure is to remove it. 
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

Abraham  Lincoln
Speech in Kansas, December 1859

BumbbleBee

Thank you.

@kathyp
Yes, the cross comb in the brood chamber is most likely to be the result of the error you told. I asked about the placement of frames in this thread a few days ago: http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,44239.msg381200.html#msg381200

Kathyp

i read your other post.  a knife is fine, but you do need something strong enough to use as a pry tool.  a large screwdriver works.

are those 4 frames of bees all the bees in the hive?  if so, they should be in only one box.  if you have more than that one, it's to much space for them.

because that hive seems small, i would not mess with trying to fix what is there right now.  you can push the empty frames together.  you can put an empty frame or two on the wall side of the brood so that the brood is more toward the middle, but that's not very important right now.  getting your empty frames together is.

we can help you fix the few messed up frame later when that hive has grown a little.  to much risk to it now. 
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

Abraham  Lincoln
Speech in Kansas, December 1859

BumbbleBee

OK, I will use the large screwdriver.

There's a honey super above the brood chamber. And that has 4-5 frames of bees with good activity. Adding foundation frames in the honey super right the active frames in the brood box seems to have increased the activity in the foundation frames.

Empty frames in the brood box are already put together, as you can see in the first picture (in http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,44239.msg381200.html#msg381200). Should I do anything else in the brood chamber?

OK, as you said, let's wait allowing the hive grow a little before fixing the combs.