Drone comb

[Do224]

I’ve got a few foundationless frames that the bees have built out with perhaps 40% drone comb. Firstly, is this normal? This is a swarm caught middle of May.

I was also wondering…once the bees have made drone comb, will it remain permanently as drone comb?

 

[Boston Bees]

I’ve got a few foundationless frames that the bees have built out with perhaps 40% drone comb. Firstly, is this normal? This is a swarm caught middle of May.

Yes. Sometimes swarms don't build drone comb in their first year, as their priority is to build up for winter, but big swarms can decide to build drone comb, certainly. Why not - drone comb is one of their ways of reproducing after all, and bees are programmed to do that.

I was also wondering…once the bees have made drone comb, will it remain permanently as drone comb?

Probably. Some say their tear it down and refashion it as they need to. I haven't seen this happen much if at all, but that's perhaps because I shuffle it around so they don't need to.

But drone comb is always usable in a hive - they can store honey in it for winter use. So no problem having it. If you have sheets which are 100% drone comb, I would manage them towards the edge of the nest by winter, that's all, and even that isn't really necessary.

 

[Do224]

Yes. Sometimes swarms don't build drone comb in their first year, as their priority is to build up for winter, but big swarms can decide to build drone comb, certainly. Why not - drone comb is one of their ways of reproducing after all, and bees are programmed to do that.

Should I take it as a sign that they’re likely to swarm again this year? They’d drawn and filled (mostly with brood) 80% of the bb at last inspection so I gave them a super.

 

[Boston Bees]

Should I take it as a sign that they’re likely to swarm again this year? They’d drawn and filled (mostly with brood) 80% of the bb at last inspection so I gave them a super.

Are they actually producing drones in this drone comb?

If so, it's not a definitive sign of swarming intent, but it does indicate a colony that feels it has plenty of resources to spare, so yes, keep an eye on them and add space (space for brood that is) as required.

 

[Erichalfbee]

All the swarms I’ve ever caught in May have always needed a lot of brood space. The current one has brood on nine frames of their 14x12. A super is a good idea but I’d be thinking of giving them more brood space.

 

[Do224]

Are they actually producing drones in this drone comb?

Yep, lots of capped cells

 

[Do224]

All the swarms I’ve ever caught in May have always needed a lot of brood space. The current one has brood on nine frames of their 14x12. A super is a good idea but I’d be thinking of giving them more brood space.

Would it be a good idea to remove the qx and go brood and a half…or perhaps remove the qx and the super and add a second bb instead?

 

[Boston Bees]

Would it be a good idea to remove the qx and go brood and a half…or perhaps remove the qx and the super and add a second bb instead?

If the brood box is full of brood, and you want to reduce the chance of them swarming, give them more brood space, via one of the methods you have mentioned

This thread is also running

Adding a 2nd brood box | Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum (beekeepingforum.co.uk)

 

[Do224]

If the brood box is full of brood, and you want to reduce the chance of them swarming, give them more brood space, via one of the methods you have mentioned

This thread is also running

Adding a 2nd brood box | Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum (beekeepingforum.co.uk)

Thanks. I’ve only got the one colony so perhaps this is a good opportunity to split them and create a second hive…

 

[Boston Bees]

Thanks. I’ve only got the one colony so perhaps this is a good opportunity to split them and create a second hive…

Certainly I would always recommend having two rather than one, as insurance. There are a dozen ways to achieve that, but that's for another thread!