How to add more frames...

[italic63]

Hello everyone.
I have a newly mated queen that is doing quite well. Quite active and laying well with a nice brood pattern. The colony was left queenless for quite some time so population is quite small so I had reduced the number of frames in the brood box. Hopefully the population will start to grow again now and soon I will need to add a couple of frames for her to lay on. Is it best to add new frames in the middle next to the brood or on the end?
Thanks

 

[user 819]

I often place a frame on the edge of the brood next wedged in between a frame of stores or I will place one between two brood frames on the edge.

 

[LeaBees]

I often place a frame on the edge of the brood next wedged in between a frame of stores or I will place one between two brood frames on the edge.

Drawn frames I guess ?

 

[Do224]

Drawn frames I guess ?

Would the advice above not work with foundation? It’s something I’m hoping to do as well

 

[user 819]

Drawn frames I guess ?

No, Foundation if need be or in my case foundation less combs esp when a flow is on.

 

[LeaBees]

No, Foundation if need be or in my case foundation less combs esp when a flow is on.

Do you not find they draw drone foundation and the queen ends up laying loads of drones rather than workers?

 

[Boston Bees]

Do you not find they draw drone foundation and the queen ends up laying loads of drones rather than workers?

They won't draw any drone comb now. Too late in the year

 

[gmonag]

With foundationlees frames the bees draw exactly the correct number of drone cells and no more or less.

 

[user 20297]

With foundationlees frames the bees draw exactly the correct number of drone cells and no more or less.

....and with relatively weak colonies, such as the ones I have, which are building up from splits, they don't seem to bother making any drone comb.

 

[drex]

I would only put an empty frame in the middle of brood nest once I was able to judge the strength of a colony. In this heat it is not too much of a risk, but a more cautious approach would be to add a frame either side adjacent to the last frame of brood.

 

[user 819]

Do you not find they draw drone foundation and the queen ends up laying loads of drones rather than workers?

For colony harmony let the bees decide what they need, work with them not against them. Drones cells will be backfilled with honey if need be when the need for rearing drone is no longer needed.

 

[REDWOOD]

Yes they will

 

[REDWOOD]

Too small to add frames in the middle, add frames each side of the brood Unless they are working the frames one side then add that side.