Cutout question.

[Jeff L]

Another rookie question. Have a newer cutout hive (frameless) BELOW a box with new waxed frames. Tried sugar water on these new frames to entice the queen to move up. No luck so far. She's still in the cutout somewhere. Question: Have some comb with honey in it from the old hive. Would placing a few chunks between these frames possibly work better than sugar water, or should I just leave things alone?   This cutout is 4 weeks old and had plenty of honeycomb to start and surely still does for the amount of bees I captured with it. This is why I ask. My common sense tells me to butt out and let them do their thing btw. Thanks.
Jeff
(cutout hive is a month old and seems to be doing well so far. Definitely new comb inside, but no suit and can only take a quick peek inside. Quick then run!)

[Scadsobees]

When you say a frameless hive with the cutout in there...what exactly do you mean?  Are they in a birdhouse or some other box?  Or are they just the comb cut out and arranged in the bottom box?

As far as moving up...they won't move up until they need to.  Depending on your question above they are still getting their hive in order.

As far as adding a real honey comb into the top  box...that is a good idea as far as getting them to accept the new frames.  But don't place them between frames.  Take the foundation out of one of the frames and put that comb into the the frame with rubber bands or string around it, if the comb is big enough.  If you just place it between, they will probably do some creating combing.  
Later, after they move up more, then you can eventually move that frame out if you have need to.  

As far as a bee suit...a spring jacket, long pants, some light colored glove, and some netting can give you some protection.  Just don't forget the smoke.

-rick

[Brian D. Bray]

Use empty frames to tie up the cutout comb in some semblence of order so that you can effectively manage the hive.  Until you do that you are only nursing a disaster.   You can't tell weather or not you have a queen and can't even evaluate the hive condition.  Either tie up the comb into frames or shake it out.

[Jeff L]

Thanks for the replies. They are in a 10 frame box without frames, making new comb horizontally rather than vertically. My "newbie hive" thread will explain it better. Just too much to type. The more I read from you guys, the more I realize I should just let them do what they do. The queen is there. The cutout box is filling. At some point they will just move up on their own. There's plenty of combed honey in this cutout box, but I think  I'll try your advice and remove one frames foundation, tie up some combed honey (definitely big enough)  and THEN just leave them alone. I'm still gonna watch them though. They just interest the **** outa me. Neat hobby! Scads and Brian, thanks!
Jeff