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Started by redhot man, May 26, 2006, 02:55:32 PM

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redhot man

May 26, 2006, 02:55:32 PM
our 2 hives have built up in the center but not the sides, how do we get the bees to draw out the sides?

Apis629

#1
May 26, 2006, 04:10:00 PM
Just move the frames of foundation to the sides of the brood nest.  The outer frame of the broodnest will usually be mostly honey.  Just move that 1 space out and put a frame of foundation in it's place.  Also, make sure they're stong enough to be making comb but, most colonies this time of year are.  Also, to aid in comb drawing, if there is no flow currently, concider feeding a light 1:1 sugar syrup.

Brian D. Bray

#2
May 26, 2006, 06:30:58 PM
Placing the undrawn or partially drawn frames in the center of the hive, breaking up the brood chamber will incite the bees to complete the comb building pronto--they hate gaps in the brood chamber.  The outer frames on each side should be honey stores.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Michael Bush

#3
May 27, 2006, 11:56:50 AM
>our 2 hives have built up in the center but not the sides, how do we get the bees to draw out the sides?

Why "get them" to?  Why not let them do it when they need the room?  They will draw what they need when they need it.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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Brian D. Bray

#4
May 27, 2006, 05:16:14 PM
Some beekeepers describe success as fully drawn comb.  But bees will build comb (hence use the space) as it is needed.  Too many keep feeding until all the foundation is drawn out not realizing that the work going on in the hive depends on honey flow and brood production.  If you don't have the resources to build more comb (honey or more bees) it just ain't going to happen until the conditions change.  And feeding actually impedes the bees ability to increase hive size bee wise.
That said, the bees can be stimulated to draw the comb to fill out the brood chamber as described in my previous post but is not always a good idea.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Finsky

#5
May 27, 2006, 06:21:46 PM
Quote from: redhot manour 2 hives have built up in the center but not the sides, how do we get the bees to draw out the sides?

Follow Brian's and Michael's advices.

Your hives are so small that they are not able to do nothing else. If you try to force them draw new foundations, you hive will spoiled. Colony draw new foundations when it get new bees.

If you feed hive, existing cells will be filled sugar and colony has less room to raise brood.
Wait that new bees emerge. New generation takes 3 weeks.
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