Flaming Eke!

[waverider]

I have rather a large amount of comb formed in the eke between the brood and crown-board. Obviously the eke is in place for the Api-Guard with a contact feeder above on the crown-board.

I assume they have no space in the brood box therefore have been building the comb that happens to ooooze with syrup.

Should i remove the feeder and allow them to feed for a week on stores? I dont want the queen being compromised on space for brood.

 

[enrico]

What I would do is scrape all extra comb off and put over crown board. Remove feeder, they will clean scraped wax.

 

[waverider]

That's exactly what I did earlier as the comb was covering the brood frame tops. Just wondered whether it would be wise to stop feeding for a week as not to compromise brood space

 

[itma]

I think wild comb in the eke is not particularly unusual, when feeding and treating simultaneously.
Not guaranteed, but not unusual.

I'd suggest stopping feeding, and removing the comb to a sealed bucket - until treatment is finished. Then give it back to them above a feeder board, without the eke!

 

[Bates]

You shouldnt be treating and feeding.

 

[VEG]

Why not?

 

[the naked beekeeper]

why not?

 

[waverider]

You shouldnt be treating and feeding.

Please enlighten us as to why.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I do and so do lots of us.

 

[itma]

Owing to the encouragement of wild comb, I can understand why the "time is money" pro beek would prefer not to do both at once.
And of course any feed diverted into wax-making would be feed not going to the building of winter stores.

 

[MuswellMetro]

Vita feed the makers of Apiguard dont recomend feeding and treating as some strains of bees can ignore the apiguard and it beomes less effective . /but it is ok to feed if your bees work the apiguard

However i have always fed once the second tub goes on with no problem

 

[Luminos]

"Ignore the apiguard..."
Am I missing something MM, how do they ignore it?

 

[itma]

"Ignore the apiguard..."
Am I missing something MM, how do they ignore it?

The bees are supposed to nibble it, and distribute it around the hive, so that the vapour gets everywhere. Its unlikely, but *IF* the bees were to concentrate on other sources of sugars ...

However, I think the main problem with feeding and treating together is the probability of getting wild comb drawn in the eke-space. But that's not a problem if you actually fancy the idea of turning some bought-in sugar into wax!

 

[Luminos]

Phew, thanks itma. Thought I'd missed something out when applying the Apiguard.