Hope for more comb an illusion?

biggraham610 · July 05, 2014, 12:26:19 AM

Ok, so Ive seen last year, after the flow, comb building basically is over. It really makes one appreciate the value of drawn comb. Here is my dilemma. So my splits are busting at the seams.......in one deep. Queens are laying a solid pattern across 7-8 frames. Just a small honey band at top and the outside frames of honey. Perfect scenario to add a box. More room right? They are not thinking of drawing another box. What are my options? I know they will throttle back brood, but we usually have a heavy goldenrod flow in the fall and white clover throughout the summer. Should I just leave a medium on and see if they decide to draw it? Im certain they know what they need more than I do. If they dont do anything I guess I will be wintering a bunch of singles. Guess I will make a 3 inch shim and give em insurance feed. What would yall recommend? Thanks. G :chop:

Vance G · July 05, 2014, 12:55:33 AM

You can indeed manipulate them by continuing feeding. If you emulsify a few drops of lemongrass oil and feed using a top feeder or baggies in that shim, You can get that next box drawn. They might be strong enough and hot to trot when that goldenrod flow comes and fill you a super then after you have stopped feeding. If done right with careful observation it will work. If you blindly pour it on the bees can plug out their brood nest causing problems or you can spill the syrup and get robbing going. Just do whatever you do good.

biggraham610 · July 05, 2014, 01:05:57 AM

Quote from: Vance G on July 05, 2014, 12:55:33 AM
You can indeed manipulate them by continuing feeding. If you emulsify a few drops of lemongrass oil and feed using a top feeder or baggies in that shim, You can get that next box drawn. They might be strong enough and hot to trot when that goldenrod flow comes and fill you a super then after you have stopped feeding. If done right with careful observation it will work. If you blindly pour it on the bees can plug out their brood nest causing problems or you can spill the syrup and get robbing going. Just do whatever you do good.

Thanks Vance, yeah I had heard mixed reports on Feeding in the dearth = comb building. Worried about the backfilling situation mostly. I guess I could give it a shot on a couple and keep a close eye on them for test subjects. Thanks for the reply. G :chop:

Dimmsdale · July 05, 2014, 01:08:14 AM

Worst case scenario, ive had good luck wintering single deeps a little north of you. They usually explode the next spring.

biggraham610 · July 05, 2014, 01:12:00 AM

Quote from: Dimmsdale on July 05, 2014, 01:08:14 AM
Worst case scenario, ive had good luck wintering single deeps a little north of you. They usually explode the next spring.

Yeah, I had one do the same this spring, Im gonna do what I can to try and get a medium on top of them, but like you say, If I have to winter them in single deeps at least I have been successful, would give them a candy board for insurance I guess. Thanks for the encouragement. G :chop:

10framer · July 05, 2014, 01:19:09 AM

this time last year i made some 5 frame (deep) nucs and slapped a second deep with foundation on them and they drew out and filled the top one during the goldenrod flow. don't know if it would work again but i may try it. i just decided that i may have to feed 5 frame nucs through winter. one of those hives lost a few pounds of bees to what looked like some kind of pesticide early in the season and still managed to draw out a deep and about 1-1/2 mediums of foundation after i converted it to a ten frame hive. a single deep that winters is plenty to start with down this way.

biggraham610 · July 05, 2014, 07:51:06 AM

Thanks 10 framer. Yeah, a single is plenty here too. I was just hoping to give them a single deep and a medium. I will be set up to carry them that way next year at worst. I went into winter with a single deep and a double deep last winter, the single made it and the double perished with a whole box of honey above them. The single blew up so fast, I had them fill a second deep in the blink of an eye and they still swarmed, and swarmed, caught a secondary, thats one of my strongest hives now. Im learning. In any case, I will have the boxes flying early next spring. Just hope I can get a few mediums drawn so I can evaluate the differences in overwintering. Feeding is not a problem. Whatever it takes to see the spring sun. Thanks. G :chop:

RHBee · July 05, 2014, 08:43:31 AM

If you made a false swarm this late in the season, put them on foundation and fed them wouldn't that put them into build-up mode?

biggraham610 · July 05, 2014, 05:19:55 PM

Never thought of that. Im getting lots of positive feedback on overwintering single deeps in my area. I think Im gonna try and drop frames between drawn brood in a couple to see if they pull them, if not, maybe they will work the top boxes when the goldenrod comes, Im going to just leave the boxes on, they have the room if they need it. If they have decided to fill the broodbox with winter stores during brood cut back mode, I will remove the medium add a 3 inch shim and feed em for winter insurance. Thanks for all your replies. G :chop:

GSF · July 06, 2014, 02:50:56 PM

I got my first package Jun 9th a year ago. They were hot to trot for a while then they stopped drawing comb. Then they started back and I had two 8f deeps drawn out by cold weather. This is Alabama tho.

biggraham610 · July 06, 2014, 08:08:03 PM

Quote from: GSF on July 06, 2014, 02:50:56 PM
I got my first package Jun 9th a year ago. They were hot to trot for a while then they stopped drawing comb. Then they started back and I had two 8f deeps drawn out by cold weather. This is Alabama tho.

Im gonna leave the boxes on, so if they get cranked back up, they will have space to go. Thanks. Its gonna be dry and HOT here for the next couple weeks, feeling things might get a little Cranky in the yard................G....... :chop:

SCPossum · July 06, 2014, 11:29:36 PM

Why don't you cut the sugar in half in hopes they start building comb, but don't store the extra syrup. I am trying it right now trying to get a second deep filled.

biggraham610 · July 07, 2014, 11:29:14 PM

Possum, Im not feeding at the moment, I have heard that method bandied around, 1-2 to draw comb, Im just leary of them backfilling. Let me know how successful you are. Oh, I did find them drawing wax in one of my weaker hives that is now queenright, i think they just want to draw it because they know she needs more room and the rest are satisfied with the brood area, thats my guess..... :chop: