Follow Up On Adding Frames

[ndvan]

I am a beginner, and I want to follow up on Sean's post about adding undrawn frames.

I am assuming that he is simply taking some frames out of an already fully drawn box, which is why he is adding just a few frames to one box.  Is that correct?

It is my understanding that when I start a box (I have ordered nucs) I will put the five nuc frames in the box and immediately fill the rest of the box with frames (either with foundation or starter strips).  Then, when that gets about 80% full, I add another box full of frames.  Do I have it right?


thanks

[amymcg]

Ndvan,

(will put the five nuc frames in the box and immediately fill the rest of the box with frames (either with foundation or starter strips).  Then, when that gets about 80% full, I add another box full of frames.  Do I have it right?)

Yep, that's they way to do it. Once 7-8 frames are drawn , add the next box, you can move a drawn frame up there to bait them, but it shouldn't take them long to move up anyway, they will be looking for more room.

[Brian D. Bray]

As long as you keep adding supers at about 80% full, the bees will continue to build comb and not swarm.  If you let them let them get all the comb drawn and mostly full they will switch to a swarm mode and swarm even if the bees in question were a new swarm or package in its first year.
Timely supering is important.