Frames

[Beesassy]

Hi as a new beekeeper I am wondering what's normal and if my hive is thriving. It may seem a silly question but how quickly should new frames be drawn ? My bee's have been in their brood box with three extra frames in with the original five for a little over a month. They have a rapid feeder. They have only just started filling the first of the new frames and seem to keep adding to the already full ones. Also would it be wrong to put the new frames in between the original instead of at the back? Thanks in advance.

 

[drex]

Sorry, but what is " normal" ?
It depends on your location, time of year, type of hive, history of the bees ( have they just been transferred from a nucs into a full hive , type of bee etc).
I assume you transferred a 5-6 frame nucs into a full brood box a month ago. We're the new frames foundation? How many actual frames of brood? they are " filling the first of the new frames and adding to the already full ones", so they are expanding.
Did you add all the new frames in one go, or a few at a time. I would not risk putting new frames in between brood frames unless I had some experience and was confident about the weather - you would split the brood, which could lead to chilling
Bees only draw new frames or use new frames if they need them. It sounds like yours don't. Keep feeding, little and often, to simulate a flow, which will encourage them to draw.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Intermittent feeding is key to getting the bees to draw frames otherwise they just fill their existing ones with syrup and at this time you need more bees.
By the way your IP address has you in Scotland. Can you put where in your profile. It helps others give you more accurate advice. Thanks

 

[Beesassy]

Sorry, but what is " normal" ?
It depends on your location, time of year, type of hive, history of the bees ( have they just been transferred from a nucs into a full hive , type of bee etc).
I assume you transferred a 5-6 frame nucs into a full brood box a month ago. We're the new frames foundation? How many actual frames of brood? they are " filling the first of the new frames and adding to the already full ones", so they are expanding.
Did you add all the new frames in one go, or a few at a time. I would not risk putting new frames in between brood frames unless I had some experience and was confident about the weather - you would split the brood, which could lead to chilling
Bees only draw new frames or use new frames if they need them. It sounds like yours don't. Keep feeding, little and often, to simulate a flow, which will encourage them to draw.

Many thanks I

Intermittent feeding is key to getting the bees to draw frames otherwise they just fill their existing ones with syrup and at this time you need more bees.
By the way your IP address has you in Scotland. Can you put where in your profile. It helps others give you more accurate advice. Thanks

Many thanks . Yes I am in Scotland and I have been feeding continually since I had them . What would you consider intermittent?

 

[Beesassy]

M

Sorry, but what is " normal" ?
It depends on your location, time of year, type of hive, history of the bees ( have they just been transferred from a nucs into a full hive , type of bee etc).
I assume you transferred a 5-6 frame nucs into a full brood box a month ago. We're the new frames foundation? How many actual frames of brood? they are " filling the first of the new frames and adding to the already full ones", so they are expanding.
Did you add all the new frames in one go, or a few at a time. I would not risk putting new frames in between brood frames unless I had some experience and was confident about the weather - you would split the brood, which could lead to chilling
Bees only draw new frames or use new frames if they need them. It sounds like yours don't. Keep feeding, little and often, to simulate a flow, which will encourage them to draw.

Many thanks. Yes transferred a month ago and new frames were foundation. The original five frames were a mix . Sounds like I have been overfeeding though.

 

[drex]

M

Many thanks. Yes transferred a month ago and new frames were foundation. The original five frames were a mix . Sounds like I have been overfeeding though.

If frames are not fully drawn and filled, I doubt you are over feeding. It depends more on how you feed. If you give a large volume of syrup in a rapid feeder they tend to store it. 500 mls every day or so, in a contact feeder, they think there is a flow on and tend to use it for frame drawing. Put a frame of foundation by the side of the brood nest and it will be drawn in a few days, with correct feeding.
Remember the queen will be starting to lay winter bees, so you want some empty cells so she has space to lay.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Bees won't draw comb unless they need to - why would they? More syrup will get them to draw comb. They will need to in order to have enough stores for winter.

 

[Amari]

Bees won't draw comb unless they need to - why would they? More syrup will get them to draw comb. They will need to in order to have enough stores for winter.

I find bees are much more reluctant to draw comb in late summer and autumn cf. spring

 

[user 819]

Strength of syrup also has a baring on what they do with it, if feeding strong 1:1 syrup then storage is more likely but little and often weak 2:1 syrup they may draw more comb as it needs more work to store it.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Strength of syrup also has a baring on what they do with it, if feeding strong 1:1 syrup then storage is more likely but little and often weak 2:1 syrup they may draw more comb as it needs more work to store it.

I think you need to read up on strong/weak (thick/thin) syrup so we can follow your logic.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Strength of syrup also has a baring on what they do with it, if feeding strong 1:1 syrup then storage is more likely but little and often weak 2:1 syrup they may draw more comb as it needs more work to store it.

Not in my experience.
My bees get invert for everything.
To draw comb half a litre every couple of days does the trick.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Not in my experience.
My bees get invert for everything.
To draw comb half a litre every couple of days does the trick.

I use invert for everything, it's heavier than 2:1, no issues getting them to draw comb. I know a few people with far more knowledge than me also rubbish the thick/thin/ little often theories and advise when a nuc gets hived, just feed,feed,feed. Not sure I'd agree with that although the few times I've done it it's worked.

 

[Murox]

Not in my experience.
My bees get invert for everything.
To draw comb half a litre every couple of days does the trick.

I often use what's termed heavy syrup whether for a boost or I want to get comb drawn ~ makes no appreciable difference; I think what matters is the amount and frequency.

 

[Beesassy]

Thanks everyone appreciate the advice.