plastic foundation-slow 2 draw

[bougepa]

i'm posting here as a test. i had trouble getting this message to post on beekeeping 101,

about 2/3 of a package of bees (many died on delivery) was installed about three weeks ago into a super of plastic frames/foundation. being new we didnt know to coat the plastic w wax. the bees were weak in number to begin with and also have been VERY slow to draw comb! as we began to realize this fact, we "painted" the frames with thick sugar syrup but this did not produce any change.

we have a hive on wax foundation that is doing great so we took 2 frames full of brood and plunked them into our slow hive. i am hoping that the new bees will strengthen the hive and encourage the frames to be drawn...but i am worried. its almost a month and only 5 frames are 1/2 way drawn. should i replace empty plastic frames w wax ones? i dont want to lose the little bit of progress that's been made. any suggestions?

[bjerm2]

bougepa, the wax coating makes a diffence. I have 18+ hives in 3/4 suppers (beemax)all on plastic foundation (perco 1-piece frams/foundation). To speed things up I would coat the rest of the plasic with beeswax. Heat some up to melting point and just brush it on with a pait brush. Becareful with heating up the wax, double boiler it, can of wax inside a container with water then over a flame. Good luck. What I have read where you gave them some brood was a good move on your part. They seem to be depressed and this will help boost their moral.
Dan

[Curry]

I use only plastic Pierco frames (precoated w/ beeswax spray), and during a strong nectar flow, they'll draw out a full deep in about a week or two.

I collected about 20 swarms this year, and many of them drew out 2 full deeps. Swarms seem to be better at drawing out comb than regular hives... hope I have many swarms next year also!

[bougepa]

thanks for the feedback. never thought of bees getting depressed. i'll get out there and cheer them on---and i'll try painting on the wax!

[roger eagles]

Swarms always work the best.I only use wax foundation in brood building,wax on top fer honey flows,then use the plastics in brood once drawed out

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B. roger eagles

[Ross]

If you aren't feeding or don't have a strong nectar flow on, they won't draw much. Try putting 1:1 syrup on them for awhile and see it they draw better.

[Beemaninsa]

Perhaps the problem is not plastic foundation, but weak bees.I advise against trying to draw ANY type of foundation with a weak colony. If possible give the foundation to a strong hive and use as much drawn comb (or brood) as you can spare with the weak bees. I would FEED FEED FEED 1/1 sugar syrup to strengthen the weak hive even if there is a nectar flow. You have to have a good population of the right age bees to bring in nectar, especially surplus. Bees will draw wax or wax coated foundation a bit faster than unwaxed, but a good hive will draw unwaxed foundation just fine.