Just a few tips on how I keep bees (so my opinion). When first installing hives it’s good practice (and I’m actually gonna above opinion and say almost mandatory) to feed them sugar water. This helps the bees draw out the comb. I definitely use waxed frames and usually heavily waxed. This helps with most and possibly all of the wonky comb. In my opinion (based on experience) it’s easier to fix the wonky comb sooner than later. Any comb that is raised above the foundation (where bees can move between the plastic foundation and drawn comb) should be removed. Queens love to hide here. Any bridge comb (comb that goes from one frame to the next frame in the opposite direction of the frame) should be removed as well. Leaving a tiny bit of wax on the honeycomb pattern of the plastic frame. That way you don’t have to rewax that portion of the frame. Keep a bucket near by when opening your hives. Throw propolis and wax into the bucket instead of on the ground (one of my bad habits). This can attract other bees, wax moths and hive beatles. Especially with new or weaker hives this can deviate them. Now the wax that you have collected can be used to wax the frames. Either by painting them when the wax is heated up or by making it into a large crayon or into a bar and once it has harden rub it on the frames. Once the first brood box frames are 80% to 90% drawn out then you can add an additional brood box or super. Depending upon how you are keeping bees (single or double brood chamber). Too much space can hurt the hive as well they can abscond or they won’t be able to defend the hive from ants, hive beetles, wax moths and other bees. I’ve kept bees since 2007/2008 and I’ve never owned a pair of beekeeping gloves. For me I knew it was going to be a waste of money. I did try a pair of welding gloves for one inspection. Recently I purchased a medical-like glove and they work extremely well. They allow me to feel - which results in less squashed bees, dropped frames and most importantly less stings. When I’m in my hives I’m literally using my fingers to see by touch. It makes a world of difference. Once your hives start to take off - slow movements and clear your mind - the bees know you better than you know yourself. Listen to them they will tell you everything you need to know. When you get stung act as nothing happened (immediately take the stinger out though). Welcome to the world of beekeeping. You’re in for extremely fun and exciting time.
Thanks rsquared3542 for the great advise... so much to consider. I'll get started on all that right away. Also, thank you for subscribing... we need all the help we can get.
Alright a couple of things that will help you out. First get a bar of wax from another beekeeper locally and rub the foundations with the wax so they will build it out. Second and this isn’t fun but you have to take that wonky comb off and make them start over. Third you need to feed them sugar syrup 1:1. Also you don’t have enough of the brood box filled out to have a honey super on. Second hive you have a laying worker. Easiest way to fix that is do a newspaper combine with the queen right hive. I would really work on getting all that wonky comb straightened out with scraping the wax off and starting over with putting wax on those bare frames and take those “supers” off and feed 1:1 sugar syrup. Just my 3 cents
Thanks for all the great advise TinyCreekBeeCo. Sounds good. I'll get started on all that this week. Also, thanks for subscribing. We need all the help we can get.
Thanks Matthunt4512. I started with large round feeders 1/1 sugar/water above the top board a few weeks ago. Maybe you're right. 2/1 may work better for them. Thanks for the advise.
Thanks Mubarakumar6903. These hive boxes, frames, and plastic foundations are all pre-waxed from the manufacturer. Maybe I need to add more wax to them. Thank you for your help.
Looks like your frames were either not waxed or it is a poor wax, it would be better to scrape all those frames with raised comb and rewax with a nice coat of real bees wax and feed them, you will see a big difference in your bees, also get rid of all that drone comb and rewax those also, looks like a laying worker or a drone laying queen. Good luck
Alright a couple of things that will help you out. First get a bar of wax from another beekeeper locally and rub the foundations with the wax so they will build it out. Second and this isn’t fun but you have to take that wonky comb off and make them start over. Third you need to feed them sugar syrup 1:1. Also you don’t have enough of the brood box filled out to have a honey super on. Second hive you have a laying worker. Easiest way to fix that is do a newspaper combine with the queen right hive. I would really work on getting all that wonky comb straightened out with scraping the wax off and starting over with putting wax on those bare frames and take those “supers” off and feed 1:1 sugar syrup. Just my 3 cents
Thanks for all the great advise TinyCreekBeeCo. Sounds good. I'll get started on all that this week. Also, thanks for subscribing. We need all the help we can get.
Just a few tips on how I keep bees (so my opinion).
When first installing hives it’s good practice (and I’m actually gonna above opinion and say almost mandatory) to feed them sugar water. This helps the bees draw out the comb.
I definitely use waxed frames and usually heavily waxed. This helps with most and possibly all of the wonky comb.
In my opinion (based on experience) it’s easier to fix the wonky comb sooner than later. Any comb that is raised above the foundation (where bees can move between the plastic foundation and drawn comb) should be removed. Queens love to hide here.
Any bridge comb (comb that goes from one frame to the next frame in the opposite direction of the frame) should be removed as well. Leaving a tiny bit of wax on the honeycomb pattern of the plastic frame. That way you don’t have to rewax that portion of the frame.
Keep a bucket near by when opening your hives. Throw propolis and wax into the bucket instead of on the ground (one of my bad habits). This can attract other bees, wax moths and hive beatles. Especially with new or weaker hives this can deviate them.
Now the wax that you have collected can be used to wax the frames. Either by painting them when the wax is heated up or by making it into a large crayon or into a bar and once it has harden rub it on the frames.
Once the first brood box frames are 80% to 90% drawn out then you can add an additional brood box or super. Depending upon how you are keeping bees (single or double brood chamber). Too much space can hurt the hive as well they can abscond or they won’t be able to defend the hive from ants, hive beetles, wax moths and other bees.
I’ve kept bees since 2007/2008 and I’ve never owned a pair of beekeeping gloves. For me I knew it was going to be a waste of money. I did try a pair of welding gloves for one inspection. Recently I purchased a medical-like glove and they work extremely well. They allow me to feel - which results in less squashed bees, dropped frames and most importantly less stings. When I’m in my hives I’m literally using my fingers to see by touch. It makes a world of difference.
Once your hives start to take off - slow movements and clear your mind - the bees know you better than you know yourself. Listen to them they will tell you everything you need to know. When you get stung act as nothing happened (immediately take the stinger out though).
Welcome to the world of beekeeping. You’re in for extremely fun and exciting time.
Thanks rsquared3542 for the great advise... so much to consider. I'll get started on all that right away. Also, thank you for subscribing... we need all the help we can get.
Alright a couple of things that will help you out. First get a bar of wax from another beekeeper locally and rub the foundations with the wax so they will build it out. Second and this isn’t fun but you have to take that wonky comb off and make them start over. Third you need to feed them sugar syrup 1:1.
Also you don’t have enough of the brood box filled out to have a honey super on.
Second hive you have a laying worker. Easiest way to fix that is do a newspaper combine with the queen right hive.
I would really work on getting all that wonky comb straightened out with scraping the wax off and starting over with putting wax on those bare frames and take those “supers” off and feed 1:1 sugar syrup.
Just my 3 cents
Thanks for all the great advise TinyCreekBeeCo. Sounds good. I'll get started on all that this week. Also, thanks for subscribing. We need all the help we can get.
You need to feed them sugar syrup, maybe even 2 to 1 ratio “frame feeders would be your best bet “
Thanks Matthunt4512. I started with large round feeders 1/1 sugar/water above the top board a few weeks ago. Maybe you're right. 2/1 may work better for them. Thanks for the advise.
You need to paint your frames with wax, it will help the bee to draw nice clean.
Thanks Mubarakumar6903. These hive boxes, frames, and plastic foundations are all pre-waxed from the manufacturer. Maybe I need to add more wax to them. Thank you for your help.
Looks like your frames were either not waxed or it is a poor wax, it would be better to scrape all those frames with raised comb and rewax with a nice coat of real bees wax and feed them, you will see a big difference in your bees, also get rid of all that drone comb and rewax those also, looks like a laying worker or a drone laying queen. Good luck
Thanks for the advise Brad. Much appreciated. Going to rethink this and come up with a plan.
hello from Kajun Homestead
Hi Brad. I just subscribed to Kajun Homestead. Can't wait to check out your vids. Thank you for subscribing... we need all the help we can get.
Alright a couple of things that will help you out. First get a bar of wax from another beekeeper locally and rub the foundations with the wax so they will build it out. Second and this isn’t fun but you have to take that wonky comb off and make them start over. Third you need to feed them sugar syrup 1:1.
Also you don’t have enough of the brood box filled out to have a honey super on.
Second hive you have a laying worker. Easiest way to fix that is do a newspaper combine with the queen right hive.
I would really work on getting all that wonky comb straightened out with scraping the wax off and starting over with putting wax on those bare frames and take those “supers” off and feed 1:1 sugar syrup.
Just my 3 cents
Thanks for all the great advise TinyCreekBeeCo. Sounds good. I'll get started on all that this week. Also, thanks for subscribing. We need all the help we can get.