New foundation being eaten

[MandF]

I don't see it either but I use good foundation and there is the suspect I think.

PH

I tend to agree.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I tend to agree.

I hope you thought about that

 

[oliver90owner]

Could it possibly be that they want a bit more air circulation in the hive?

Mandy,

It is a no brainer. Your little tantrums will add up to precisely zero.

Why on earth would a 5 frame colony in a full hive with mostly undrawn foundation want to make holes in outer-most sheets of foundation to increase their ventilation, after just 5 days? It really does demonstrate how little you think about your postings.

You are not worth reasoning with, so I will not resond to you on this thread again.

 

[MandF]

Olivia, or is it Roberta?, so why did they then oh bee-whisperer!?

I would have thought, thinking about it, as you do, that if they created holes on the outside frames, it would allow more circulation around the outside of the hive. "Outside" being the pertinent word.

And if it were only the outside foundation, why is that any kind of reason to not use foundation as opposed to a dummy board?

Bottom line is, the bees created the holes, they must have had a good reason for it, a million years of evolution trumps your OPINION, no? Unless you are suggesting they decided to vandalise the outside frames because they were so upset their new keeper didnt give them a lovely wooden wall.

It would be nice, when wrong, if you would man up and admit it. But manning up is never going to be your forte, it never is for abusive individuals on the internet.

 

[Phayze]

just thowing one out there complete speculation but perhaps they (the bees) decided to take some wax from the outer frames as they dont need it there yet to use on the inner frames where they are maybe couldnt produce enough wax of there own as i said though just speculation

 

[MandF]

Well I was told that bees do not re-use wax, but on the occasions I put some comb above the CB for the bees to clean out, most of the time they do just that, but I have seen them break down the comb too, so who knows (apart from Olivia).

That is the beauty about this art, noone actually knows what the bees are thinking, despite what some people may suggest.

 

[DorsetB]

"maybe couldnt produce enough wax of there own"

... I was thinking that too, but I suppose it could also be that they are removing wax they don't like the smell of (since we are told that some of the wax foundation we buy can be tainted with chemicals and residual treatments).

 

[MJBee]

3 years ago one of my colonies took ventilation/access routes to the extreme - an ASBO was issued and when the new queen came into lay the vandalism stopped

Search "foundation abuse" it's an interesting thread.

 

[mbc]

So, can anyone offer a benefit, from the bees perspective, of using a dummy board (not divider) over a frame of foundation? Or is he going to keep sniping and making snide comments without backing up his OPINION (for it is one).

Dummy board offers more insulation

 

[oliver90owner]

MJBee,

Most definitely wanted more ventilation in the hive?

Or is it ?

 

[Luminos]

MJBee,

Most definitely wanted more ventilation in the hive?

Or is it ?

Definitely two "V"s for Ventilation

 

[Swarm]

That frame looks like the bees have a real objection to the wire.

 

[Phayze]

That frame looks like the bees have a real objection to the wire.

 

[Lindylou]

Not sure whether to say thanks to everyone for their replies or sorry for causing so much friction. But thanks anyway.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Hey Lindylou - don't worry!


You can't be responsible for how people use your post.

Anyway, a lot got ventilated!

And it provided us with a lot of fun!


Do it again, gal!


Dusty

 

[jackbee]

Not sure whether to say thanks to everyone for their replies or sorry for causing so much friction. But thanks anyway.

friction only bothers those that get heated by it, most just sit back, pour a cuppa and warm our hands on the flames

don't sweat it

 

[DorsetB]

MJBee, look on the positive side: at least you have(or had) a ready made Miller frame (well, almost).

 

[MandF]

Dummy board offers more insulation

Which was the first question I posed about this on this thread. Does it actually offer (significantly) more insulation than wax?

Also, when a swarm finds a new home, we know from bait hive experiments that they prefer national brood box size volume. In the wild, if they find such a home, they will be left in an empty void - all that air to keep at the correct temp. So I still don't quite understand why a nuc would need additional insulation at the sides, this time of year?

If it gets a bit chilly, put some top insulation on (if you dont already have it), or backfill the unused area beyond the outside foundation with kingspan or something.

Once again, I am still unsure (after plenty of thinking) why a dummy board is felt necessary or preferable over wax foundation in this scenario?

 

[herefordshirehoney]

I do this on the brood frames and super frames, and make a gap on both edges of the foundation. You're right about the groove of course, and the whole assembly feels a little more "floppy" than assembling say a National frame, even when wired. You need to handle the frames a little carefully until the bees build them out and seal the wax to the frame.

Sweet thanks, sorry didnt notice this thread after replying must have dropped off the screen!

I'm thinking of giving this a go, wont be able to do it easily on the combs that comes from the nucs though so might only bee on half the combs in the brood. Seems a shame to cut this nice foundation from kbs up though could try it on one and compare the two to see the difference be it not a 100% test.

 

[Lindylou]

Having done our second inspection have found that they have completely filled the hole in the foundation with new comb. So I needn't have worried. Am wondering why they should eat the foundation only to replace it. Could there have been something on the original foundation that they didn't like?