Why are bees building comb in the apiguard eke?

[Murox]

No need for extremes now.
Because in answer to that, I could just suggest that we stop using ekes at all - no treatment?!
We've introduced a small space into the hive, the bees have dealt with it as they wish, there are different ways to manage that.
By all means, break it down if that's what you have always done, doesn't mean everyone else has to do the same.

Just read this or use a different form of treatment.

 

[Walrus]

I'm calm, still smiling

Why not suggest alternatives and let them make their own minds up?
If something works, how can it be wrong?

1. There are always plenty of alternative ideas on here, which is tricky for a beginner who doesn’t have a mentor because they don’t have the experience to sort the wheat from the chaff.


2. Cleaning the toilet with my tongue works...how can it be wrong?


Anywa you’ve made your point, so well done

 

[Smallbeehive]

Comb in the Apiguard Eke part 2

Well I went in today to remove the comb in the eke and remove 50mm eke and replace with 20mm one as it was a nice day here in the afternoon.

All seemed to be going well but the comb was attached to the frame and not the crown board anymore bee's hadn't re attached it yet and it actually took me a while to scrape it all off the frames and get all bee's out of the way and away. While all this was going on the crown board was put to one side on the floor for a good 20 mins or so and I needed to get it back on but it had a cluster of bee's on it that wouldn't shift I smoked a few times but they wouldn't go so I decided to try and slide it back on trying not to hurt the bee's on it and at this point I noticed the Queen on the crown board so she had been sitting there on the floor out in the open for a good 20 mins or so. I wasn't happy about the Queen being on the crown board and I didn't expect her to be there but I am lucky she stayed on there and I noticed her just before putting it back on. Next time I will check thoroughly before removing.

I got 2 Tupperware boxes of comb and I am surprised they had made this much at this time of year in less than 2 weeks and it was a right mess to sort out surely they won't build in there anymore with only a 20mm eke on?

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[Smallbeehive]

Took this quick video just after extracting the comb can see a few bee's clearing up the bits of comb at entrance, I think I have been very lucky with my first bee's they have been very forgiving for a beginner like myself and let me sit in front of the hive filming just after ripping all their comb out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrBoyG6zSb0&feature=share

 

[bingevader]

I'm sorry, but as with the last tread, this is going to be a bit of advice for the future, rather than advice for now.
As you can see and have said, the bees are pretty good at clearing up the mess you make, so don't worry too much.
So, if you use a queen excluder, my advice would be that it was the last thing you removed before tucking the bees up for the winter.
Then you know the queen isn't likely to be anywhere other than in the brood box, whilst you are messing around upstairs.
If you don't use a QE, then yes, you have to expect that the queen could be anywhere in the hive and act appropriately.
As for the comb, I'm sorry, but I had assumed that you had removed all the broken pieces.
As you've realised, the bees will stick down anything that is loose.
I haven't had any comb in a 20mm eke, yet!
Just go carefully, checking for the queen.
And remove any new comb if necessary.

Oh, and don't twist, just in case!