Brace Comb in BB - Did I Do The Right Thing?

[BBK]

I performed an inspection of my only hive yesterday and was please to find it building up nicely. Brood on 7 frames with various amounts of stores on these frames also plus a further 3 frames of stores. The main purpose of the inspection was to spot any swarm cells. Here lay the challenge. 3 of the central frames of the brood nest had significant amounts of brace comb attached to the undersides of the frames. This comb was laid up with brood in all stages. For a newbie I found this difficult to inspect with cells of differing shapes, sizes and orientation compared to the regularity of drawn foundation. Based on the high probability of me missing a swarm cell in this comb I decided to remove it. Thinking about it afterwards I suppose the comb was a result of the bees trying to maintain a nice spherical shape to the nest – indeed the frames in question were themselves laid up right from top to bottom. In hindsight was this a sensible thing to do? Are they going to simply replace the brace? Is there anything I could do to prevent it or should I just learn to inspect the relative randomness of laid up brace? For info there was 1 remaining undrawn frame of foundation in the BB – although this was between the nest and 2 frames of stores and at the time I had no super on although I added 10 frames in a super at the end of the inspection.

Any advice/experience much appreciated. I’ll attempt to upload a photo also.

 

[oliver90owner]

I was expecting to see a little burr comb, but that looks like a fair bit of wild comb!
Is the box too deep for the frames? Or the floor too deep? I am guessing they will be OK, but worth the question. Sometimes bees will prefer to build in the space under any frame rather than use the outermost frames - it is likely warmer!

Move the frames steadily towards the outside of the nest before removing the extra comb is a good idea, 'cos they will stop laying it up when a warmer area is available.

Theirr stores are in the way of the queen laying, without them moving honey outwards - again something they would not want to do.

Does this hive have a super? It certainly needs somewere for the bees to store all that honey in the brood box (hope it is not sugar syrup). It is equivalent to over half a shallow super.

So overall it seems like your brood box is congested with stores. Likely to swarm unless you make some changes. Removing three frames of stores and replacing with foundation might improve the situation or add a super and bruise those stores to encourage them to move it upstairs.

Regards, RAB

 

[Midland Beek]

It needed the super. Cutting off the wild comb was exactly the right thing to do.

 

[BeeNice]

I agree with RAB, but just as a tip, take out the end frames first and slide the other frames to the space left empty. To pull the comb out from the middle you have a danger of rolling the bees and maybe hurting the queen. If not sure ask another beekeeper about moving frames around in the hive.
As long as you have laying space, the queen should be happy!!! Ha!
Happy beekeeping
Steven

 

[BBK]

Thanks chaps. The hive is of standard National config so no unstandard spaces. Looks like cutting off the wild comb and adding a super has bought me some time. I don't want to disturb them again until next scheduled inspection but will take on your advice and look to get them to expand onto other frames by moving a central nest frame outwards and "leapfrog" an undrawn frame over the stores towards the brood nest.

Thanks for the explanation - makes perfect sense.

I've been using a dummy board at one end to give me some room to remove frames (in the photo you can't see that I've placed it on the floor)- but you're absolutely right Steven - need to give myself more room - think I'll get myself one of those frame rest gadgets - though the logic of hanging a frame of bees directly in front of ones nether regions has to be questionable!!

 

[MuswellMetro]

Thanks chaps. The hive is of standard National config so no unstandard spaces. Looks like cutting off the wild comb and adding a super has bought me some time. I don't want to disturb them again until next scheduled inspection but will take on your advice and look to get them to expand onto other frames by moving a central nest frame outwards and "leapfrog" an undrawn frame over the stores towards the brood nest.

Thanks for the explanation - makes perfect sense.

I've been using a dummy board at one end to give me some room to remove frames (in the photo you can't see that I've placed it on the floor)- but you're absolutely right Steven - need to give myself more room - think I'll get myself one of those frame rest gadgets - though the logic of hanging a frame of bees directly in front of ones nether regions has to be questionable!!

well , i tend to use a frame rest but you can just place the first frame flat on top of the half of the brood box you are not inspecting then, put it on the other half, acts like a manipulation cloth

 

[BeeNice]

Also you can just prop the outside frame on its end in front of the hive entrance, but I've started to do what Muswell does. You will find you own way, without spending for gagits you may only use a couple of times.
Happy keeping
Steven

 

[tonybloke]

it looks like your floor is too deep.
I always lay the first frame out of the brood box on top of the rest of the frames, it keeps 1/2 of the bees in the dark.