tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post7540488688273072260..comments2016-05-23T09:22:11.847-07:00Comments on Beeginnings: 07-10-2012: Triple Disaster StrikesMark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17761362453988783369noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-69166501766097978032012-08-21T05:21:04.255-07:002012-08-21T05:21:04.255-07:00Always appreciate the feedback! Yeah, moving alre...Always appreciate the feedback! Yeah, moving already drawn out comb up into the empty box does help. They've done a much better job of building straight when I tried that on White hive. For a comb guide I just used craft sticks glued into the grooved top bar and they coated it with melted beeswax. Sometimes they just ignore it =) I guess I've learned that when the population is low this isn't much of a worry since most all the bees cluster together and build comb close together. When you add a new box to the hive and it is FULL of bees, they go all over the place and build comb and don't necessarily have a neighboring "straight" frame to use as a guide.Mark Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17761362453988783369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-83079350863637126442012-08-20T12:15:41.463-07:002012-08-20T12:15:41.463-07:00I'm late to the game on the reply to this, but...I'm late to the game on the reply to this, but to help them build straight comb, it helps to have drawn or preferrably capped comb flanking each foundationless frame. What are you using for your comb guide? I've used paint stirrer sticks and then switched to craft sticks. <br />Good luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-89427111156532943252012-07-16T13:53:14.653-07:002012-07-16T13:53:14.653-07:00Yeah, I am finding that three hives actually take ...Yeah, I am finding that three hives actually take a lot more time to inspect than what I thought it would.<br /><br />I have read about the toothpick test. Good reminder! I'll give that a try next time I open that hive up.<br /><br />The rubber band method seems like to easiest to implement. I think I'm going to bring a change of gloves out too. There was so much honey dripping all over the place. I can only imagine what it would be like with me cutting pieces apart and putting them back in the frames!<br /><br />I had such good comb on my other foundationless frames, I guess the only "mistake" I made was not moving a few of them up into the empty box to give them a straight guide. I DID do that in my white hive so I'm eager to see if that made a difference. <br /><br />So far no one thinks I have AFB or EFB. I had one person think that it was Chalkbrood. We'll see if feeding them helps at all and I'll do the toothpick test too. Hopefully no ropey brood!!<br /><br />Thanks ChrisMark Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17761362453988783369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-461458761669656912012-07-16T13:37:39.369-07:002012-07-16T13:37:39.369-07:00wow- what a busy day of inspections!
I can't ...wow- what a busy day of inspections!<br /><br />I can't tell from the pictures if the TBH has any disease or not. One thing that might help is if you perform the "rope" test. Stick a toothpick (or other) into a dead larva and pull it out. Depending on if you get a long, sticky rope like substance to pull out or not, it helps identify whether disease is present and if so, what type.<br /><br />I've never tried foundation-less frames, but have heard that on rare occasions, the bees will draw the wax in patterns other than what the beekeeper intended. I've talked to others, who say when it happens to them, they cut the cross-comb, and used big rubber bands, string, zip ties, whatever-it-takes to put the comb back into the frame straight.<br /><br />Apparently the big rubber bands, string, ties etc doesn't bother the bees. It only takes a week or so for them to permanently re-attach the comb with fresh wax, and then you can cut the bands, string or ties off. <br /><br />Whatever you decide to do, keep us updated!<br /><br />ChrisChristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04612958852770385279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-78107220444753635222012-07-13T11:19:47.439-07:002012-07-13T11:19:47.439-07:00That comb and honey won't go to waste if you h...That comb and honey won't go to waste if you hang onto it. You can practice crushing and straining, or put the whole thing in a jar and let it ooze. That's what I did with my honey burr comb. The other comb - with larvae or pollen, etc, I put in a plastic bag and stuck in the freezer. It'll add and up and be good for candles, or salve or something.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041356917989003119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-3076505174957207902012-07-13T05:03:26.372-07:002012-07-13T05:03:26.372-07:00I thought things were going so well too! =)
I wa...I thought things were going so well too! =)<br /><br />I was tempted to cut it out but it just seemed like so much comb (and honey) that would go to waste.<br /><br />Yeah, I need to go on beemaster and ask. Thanks Robin!Mark Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17761362453988783369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425792320147959846.post-7751724707945848212012-07-13T04:15:13.959-07:002012-07-13T04:15:13.959-07:00I am very sympathetic. One of my hives has nothi...I am very sympathetic. One of my hives has nothing but problems, too. Those bees with do what they will do. <br /><br />When I've had bad cross comb, I've cut it out. The little bumps I leave in as long as I can get the frame out. When the bees had a good queen and plenty of space, they built straight. <br /><br />The more I learn about my bees the more I realize how important a good queen is. Is it time to requeen? What do the experts on the forum advise?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041356917989003119noreply@blogger.com