Foundation failed!

[nickd]

Hello all, some practical advice would be appreciated. A 14x12 frame in the hive has for some reason bowed considerably. The bees had initially drawn out the foundation and it had been filled with stores. At some stage it failed and now the bees have compensated by drawing out a second layer of cells, again filled with stores. As you can imagine this heavy frame is quite unstable and may collapse completely, it is making inspections difficult as it sticks to adjacent frames. What would be the best course of action. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If it's filled with stores take it out.
Extract the honey and give it back to them or make mead out of it.
There's a flow on, it's warm. They should draw out another frame pronto.

 

[enrico]

Just replace it. Some you win some you lose!
E

 

[itma]

If it's filled with stores take it out.
Extract the honey and give it back to them or make mead out of it.
There's a flow on, it's warm. They should draw out another frame pronto.

If it isn't filled with stores, move it to the outside and wait until it is empty of brood.
If it then has nectar/honey stored on it, but the comb-drawing is beyond redemption, cut the comb out, and crush the stores area, then strain the mess through a fine-ish sieve.
You can then use your feeder to give the stores back to the same hive (put the feeder on the hive in the evening - to avoid promoting robbing).
If you are really trying to maximise the recovery, you could also 'feed' back the crushed comb. Thing is that they need to climb over the wax to pick it clean, so use something like a feeder with the cone removed. Definitely better to strain and separate the 'bits', than to try to 'feed' back the entire frame - as they are very likely to treat it as a super and build more comb onto it, in new and different directions!

Fit new foundation to the (straight!) frame and reuse.