Cut-outs, Swarm frames, and rotating frames out

[Hobie]

I will soon be getting some swarm frames from WVBeekeeper in preparation for a cut-out this spring. Obviously, these are specialized frames that I don't want permanently in a hive. How do others rotate these frames out? How long do you wait before you move them to a new position or remove them?

[kirk-o]

I don't it is extra time and frames.I just tie the comb in with cotton string or I use elastics.I then leave them in the bees do the rest done deal.
kirkobeeo

[WVbeekeeper]

I will soon be getting some swarm frames from WVBeekeeper in preparation for a cut-out this spring. Obviously, these are specialized frames that I don't want permanently in a hive. How do others rotate these frames out? How long do you wait before you move them to a new position or remove them?

In one of bullseye Bill's posts I remember him saying that he put the comb in upside down.

My methods of beekeeping do not fit the "norm". What I do is not typical and I do not expect it to fit into every ones management style or budget. It is very expensive to set up all your hives in 100% Permacomb or Honey Super Cell, but that is what I have done.

I average over 30 cutouts a year, so I do have some naturally drawn wax in some of my hives. I also have SBB's in all my hives as well, and in the fall I put the trays in and when feeding them I will inspect the trays for mites. What is very noticeable is the higher rate or mites found in the hives with drawn wax.

I have been completely chemical free for nearly four years now and have only introduced three bought queens in the last three years, (three of PURVIS BROTHERS GOLD LINE DUDS) that died the first winter. In general I have 20% winter losses due to various reasons, doing cutouts too late and starvation being among them.

In short when I see higher mite fall in the hives with drawn wax than in the hives with all drawn plastic, that equates a reason to get the wax out of my hives.

From this thread;http://208.69.121.208/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=279589

If you use wax instead of plastic, confine the queen to the hive body with the newly drawn comb with a queen excluder. After all the brood has emerged from the split frames you can place this above the inner lid. Scratch the cappings and the bees will move any honey down. An easy way to do it is to place the inner lid on the box with the frames and turn the box over so the cells are slanting down instead of up.

[Ross]

I pretty much use rubber bands exclusively for cutouts.

[Ben Brewcat]

I've used string so far, and just rotated out those combs as they didn't make the cut when culling the least straight/drone-combed/whatever criteria.

I ordered some swarm frames too and am planning on trying the upside-down thing. I'll cull the comb in the swarm frames as they have drawn out enough new comb to not need the old, or string it into permanent frames once it's drawn out square.

[xC0000005]

I like catch frames. Good stuff. To remove them I just rotate them toward the outside of the box every week when I'm inspecting. When the catch frames are on the ouside I look for brood/eggs. No brood, no eggs and that frame gets pulled.

[livetrappingbymatt]

Drawn comb is always at a premium So!
My cut out combs a rotated to swarm traps after the brood hatches. If the moths get into them I've really lost nothing. Frames can be reused after cleaning.
bob evans

[iddee]

I use cut-out frames, tie in regular frames, and/or wire in regular frames. Either way, I wait until the queen is laying in the normal frames, than I shake the bees from the removal frames and place them above an excluder until the brood hatches, then I remove them.

[Michael Bush]

>How do others rotate these frames out?

It's natural sized comb. Why would I want to rotate it out? But I do rotate out large comb when regressing. I just move it to the outsides and wait for the brood to emerge.

[Hobie]

>How do others rotate these frames out?

It's natural sized comb. Why would I want to rotate it out?

I'd only want to rotate it out to get the fancy "swarm frames" back out to re-use.

[marty_rk]

Going off of rotating the frames out, I want to goto natural comb. what should I do with these frames that are rotated out, being that they are brood? I dont want to just throw them

[Michael Bush]

Move them to the outside or above an excluder until they emerge and them remove them.