Unused foundation query

[mrchips]

Anticipating a good bee-keeping year I made up super and brood frames in the late spring. Unfortunately the weather has been rubbish and I've now got four supers and one brood box full of frames with new, untouched by bee foundation. As this will dry out and become brittle over the winter I'm thinking I should probably take the foundation out of the frames, pack it up together like it comes from the suppliers and store it for next spring. Is this the right approach to the problem? If not, how should I best deal with it?

 

[Finman]

Anticipating a good bee-keeping year I made up super and brood frames in the late spring. Unfortunately the weather has been rubbish and I've now got four supers and one brood box full of frames with new, untouched by bee foundation. As this will dry out and become brittle over the winter I'm thinking I should probably take the foundation out of the frames, pack it up together like it comes from the suppliers and store it for next spring. Is this the right approach to the problem? If not, how should I best deal with it?

Keep the foundations in frames and use then next summer. They will be OK

 

[Cussword]

One idea, (it may not be a good one) would be to nadir a shallow with your frames under each brood box. The frames could act as baffles* and you are raising the brood up from draughts.

*Read that in a post of Rab's.

 

[Erichalfbee]

No don't do that. The bees will walk all over the foundation and make it dirty. Store them somewhere dry and use them next year

 

[EKBee]

A quick blast with a hair dryer will rejuvenate them next spring

 

[Cussword]

No don't do that. The bees will walk all over the foundation and make it dirty. Store them somewhere dry and use them next year

I always give way to your greater knowledge but, don't bees walk all over the hive?

 

[BeeJayBee]

A quick blast with a hair dryer will rejuvenate them next spring

A lot of people do this, but I've found it isn't necessary because the wax gets warm quickly enough once it's in the hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I always give way to your greater knowledge but, don't bees walk all over the hive?

I speak from personal experience. One year I nadired a super of badly drawn (made up from lots of supers) cut comb. It was pale and beautiful......absolutely pristine in colour but unusable. When I removed it the following spring it was brown and dirty looking.
I have never put a shallow of foundation under. I was just exptrapolating the experience of the cut comb.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

A lot of people do this, but I've found it isn't necessary because the wax gets warm quickly enough once it's in the hive.

belongs in the same fairytale book that says bees won't go up into a super of fresh foundation through a QX

 

[itma]

belongs in the same fairytale book that says bees won't go up into a super of fresh foundation through a QX

Emyr, just because you haven't experienced it - YET - doesn't make it a fairytale!

It does happen, sometimes, but most often with a new box and new frames as well as foundation.



Foundation 'nadired' through the winter is likely to emerge a bit tatty in the spring. More chewed-through than dirty would be my concern.

Seal up the box inside a big plastic bag and put it away for the winter.
In Spring, warm it over gently to get it smelling fresh before putting it on the hive.

 

[Arfermo]

A quick blast with a hair dryer will rejuvenate them next spring

Better still sprayed with light syrup before inviting bees to draw!!!

 

[Into the lions den]

A lot of people do this, but I've found it isn't necessary because the wax gets warm quickly enough once it's in the hive.

Quite so. just stack it up in the shed, make sure no mice get in, and its good to go next year. The foundation is warmed naturally by the bees as they need the space. In fact warming it may be counter productive as it might drive off some bee attractive volatiles.

Have used boxes of foundation that have sat for even five years. No issues at all.

 

[td4bees]

Anticipating a good bee-keeping year I made up super and brood frames in the late spring. Unfortunately the weather has been rubbish and I've now got four supers and one brood box full of frames with new, untouched by bee foundation. As this will dry out and become brittle over the winter I'm thinking I should probably take the foundation out of the frames, pack it up together like it comes from the suppliers and store it for next spring. Is this the right approach to the problem? If not, how should I best deal with it?

I start making up frames for next year now, 20 supers already just stacked in shed dry no gaps. this is how I spend my winter never a problem. even the wax moth don't bother with foundation heat of hive is the job if not then you have superd to soon

 

[Finman]

A quick blast with a hair dryer will rejuvenate them next spring

No needed.

 

[Finman]

Better still sprayed with light syrup before inviting bees to draw!!!

No needed.
No meaning. At night colony constricts together and protect brood. they do not enlarge their nest with trics.

 

[BrianO]

My experience, on one of my hives plonked an un drawn super, wouldn't go up , transferred a half filled frame from another super into it , bees were up in super next day and drawing out comb a few days later.

So I wouldn't worry about hair dryers etc, store secure, plonk on when ready , put one drawn frame in preferably with some capped/uncapped stores and you're good to go !

 

[fred scuttle]

Or keep them secure over winter and pop them in the back of the car the night before using them next year, they'll be toasty warm and the wax smelling fresh when you come to put them onto the hives later in the day.. No need for hairdryers..

 

[BrianO]

Or keep them secure over winter and pop them in the back of the car the night before using them next year, they'll be toasty warm and the wax smelling fresh when you come to put them onto the hives later in the day.. No need for hairdryers..

Hi

Doubt bees will be to put out if you just put them in regardless of temperature etc, they will soon warm up in the hive .

They are adaptable

 

[mrchips]

Thanks for the comments. The day after I write the query I was in the company of a commercial bee keeper and ask his advice. He suggested I put them in a couple of plastic sacks and seal them up and further suggested that I give the foundation a quick spray of light syrup when I use them next spring and the bees will take to them readily.

 

[psafloyd]

A quick blast with a hair dryer will rejuvenate them next spring

Or a blowtorch. IF you're very careful.