Supers and Frames

its.only.money · Jan 21, 2018

Hi

2017 was my first year beekeeping with a single colony purchased from another local beekeeper. The colony built up quickly and filled a single super, even starting a second, which was never completely filled.

So now I have 2 supers one with drawn comb and one with a few drawn frames.

When the spring starts the colony grows to a point I need to add supers again, which should I start with, the partially drawn or fully drawn super?

Or should I mix the frames up so that they are both a mixture of drawn and partially drawn foundation? If the latter, should I put undrawn frames in the centre and drawn to the outer edges to encourage the bees to draw out the centre frames?

Or, does it really matter?

Thanks
Paul.

enrico · Jan 21, 2018

We never know what a year will be like so my advice is to start with drawn comb, you are more likely to get a crop.. as the season progresses, if it is a good one and you add another super, they will have stores to finish drawing it. Good luck for the new year.
E

its.only.money · Jan 21, 2018

Thanks Enrico
:thanks:

Poly Hive · Jan 21, 2018

The norm is to use the drawn ones a "guides" and put undrawn inbetween them.

On even a lightish flow they will be drawn out pretty fast.

PH

Eyeman · Jan 22, 2018

When the spring starts the colony grows to a point I need to add supers again, which should I start with, the partially drawn or fully drawn super?

In spring drawn comb in honey supers pay dividends- your likely to get a spring honey harvest.

birdsandbees · Jan 22, 2018

Poly Hive said:
The norm is to use the drawn ones a "guides" and put undrawn inbetween them.

On even a lightish flow they will be drawn out pretty fast.

PH

yep, this is what I'd do, follows bee natural behaviour too... fill from the top down.

drex · Jan 22, 2018

Drawing wax is expensive in terms of energy. They use a lot of honey to make wax, hence the harvest is lower than if You give them ready drawn comb. However you will have to get foundation drawn out at some time. I am with poly hive. If I am introducing foundation, then I alternate it with drawn comb. That way they will have somewhere to store any excess they might bring in while drawing the comb. I will get most of my foundation drawn on the OSR crop, which is bountiful here. Once the supers are drawn they get used year after year. Good storage over winter is essential. Drawn comb is a valuable commodity.