something new?

Kathyp · May 14, 2007, 12:23:18 AM

in one of my hives, all goes as expected. they are drawing out the second super on the full foundation, but have not made much progress on the strips. even so, they are up there working stuff.

on the second hive, they seem not interested in the upper box. they are not drawing out the full foundation and not at all on the strips. this is the bigger and more active of the two hives, so it is the opposite of what i had expected.

if i don't see a change in a few days, i thought i might swap the top in bottom boxes on hive two. my preference is to be patient and see what happens, but i am concerned that if they do not get to building some foundation out, they will be more apt to swarm.

anyone had this happen? what did you do?

tillie · May 14, 2007, 12:33:40 AM

My most active hive did the same thing, kathyp. I put the unworked box between the brood box and the next super and they built it out. They are still slower than either other hive in building comb and filling supers. I was surprised too because when I set up the hives this one seemed to be the most energetic - but the slower hard-working hive has filled five supers in five weeks.

Maybe it's the old tortoise and the hare tale.....

;) Linda T in Atlanta

TwT · May 14, 2007, 01:00:43 AM

if the boxes are the same size take 2 for 3 frames from the bottom box and put in the top checker boarded, (you know drawn comb then foundation an so on but put these in the center of the box with foundation on both sides of each) this is like bait frames to make the hive move up, it will also bring the queen up if you move brood comb up, but first inspect the hive because they might have cells in them and could be getting ready to swarm, most time you put a drawn comb in the top box they will start drawing it out also...

Kathyp · May 14, 2007, 11:01:55 AM

thanks guys. i'll try moving some frames first. that seems like the easiest thing. also time to do a good check of the hives, so i'll get a both today.

doak · May 14, 2007, 01:58:22 PM

I had one that did the same thing. Got to checking. They were honey bound. It was a very strong hive and I thought they would break through but they didn't. Thats when I wish I had all mediun boxes. A deep full of honey is more than my degenrated vertabre can stand. Mr. Ritis caused that. and I'm 65.:roll:
doak

TwT · May 14, 2007, 11:24:18 PM

kathyp, let us know what you find on the inspection and how it goes when finished.

Kathyp · May 14, 2007, 11:53:57 PM

it looks good. hive one has brood and larvae. it was not moving up, so i swapped some strips from the top with a couple of honey frames from the bottom. left the brood nest basically alone. also moved one drawn frame that was pretty empty to the middle of the top box. they now have 4 out of 10 frames that are drawn....with or without something in them.

hive two has more brood and i think more bees, and has started working on the starter strips in the top box. they both seem to be a bit slow at starting those strips, but i'll give it a fair chance. should be more brood hatching in a few days.

didn't take pics. to hot and wanted out of that bees getup fast! :-)

Michael Bush · May 17, 2007, 10:56:52 AM

One hive often greatly exceeds another...

Kathyp · May 17, 2007, 11:11:20 AM

just they guys i need to ask, MB :-). hive two is still not at those stater strips in the second box, but they are ok and have room. i'm not to worried about them.

in the hive that has started on the strips, they are building the cells on the starter strips first. do they usually do that before building down? i probably made the strips to wide. they are about 3". it makes sense that they would finish the top before building the bottom, but i had to ask.

Brian D. Bray · May 17, 2007, 06:26:16 PM

With starter strips I've found hives that build out differently. some will build the strip all the way across and then start down (1 hive--the Italians). Another might start on one end of the frame and build both down and back at the same time (2 hives--NWC). Yet another will begin in the middle and build in out in 3 drections at the same time (1 hive--MH).
Hives that have been raised on foundation (especially plastic) seem to be slower at digging in and building the strips out. However, once they get going they are gangbusters. Watching bees build out frames of comb is watching them do what comes naturally and is awesome to see.

Mici · May 17, 2007, 07:58:49 PM

jep, noticed the same as Brian. one frame is literally divided into 3 third, while another onw is built more perfectly than the ones with foundation, but usually i saw them starting to draw from 3 points, i just admire how they make 3 simultaniusly built combs into one perfectly shaped.

TwT · May 17, 2007, 10:27:38 PM

Quote from: kathyp on May 17, 2007, 11:11:20 AM
just they guys i need to ask, MB :-). hive two is still not at those stater strips in the second box, but they are ok and have room. i'm not to worried about them.

in the hive that has started on the strips, they are building the cells on the starter strips first. do they usually do that before building down? i probably made the strips to wide. they are about 3". it makes sense that they would finish the top before building the bottom, but i had to ask.

oh so only MB should answer this ha ;) , ok :-X

Michael Bush · May 17, 2007, 11:06:38 PM

>just they guys i need to ask, MB. hive two is still not at those stater strips in the second box, but they are ok and have room. i'm not to worried about them.

Either put the box underneath or put a drawn comb in the box for a ladder and they will get to them more quickly.

>in the hive that has started on the strips, they are building the cells on the starter strips first. do they usually do that before building down?

It depends. If they are very short they start at the top bar. If they run about 2" or so they sometimes start in the middle of the 2". If they are 3" or more they tend to treat it like foundation and start at the top.

> i probably made the strips to wide. they are about 3".

That's not a starter strip. That's half a sheet of foundation.

Kathyp · May 17, 2007, 11:39:36 PM

QuoteThat's not a starter strip. That's half a sheet of foundation.

not in a deep. i was having a little trouble cutting the stuff. i needed it warmer i think.

thank you all for the answers. i took a quick look under the lid today and they are working away on the (to big) strips. i think we'll be ok. :-)