When does comb happen?

[mxr618]

Here's what I have:

End of the first 24 hours. This evening (after dark) I pulled open the inspection window and:
1. the syrup in the gallon ziploc bag is gone.
2. the dead bees are gone. they shoved them out and flew away with them. it was awesome to see.
3. the swarm is balled around the queen who is still in her cage. I'll check her tomorrow and see if she's ready to be let out.

My total not-panicking-yet newbie question:

When does the comb start to happen? None of the bars show any activity. Today the hive was active -- good flights around the hive and what looked to be exploratory flights around the backyard. Some of the girls got in the house.

No bees on the dandelions or creeping charlie yet. But no comb at all. So when do they start building comb? Further, I let the queen out tomorrow and there's no comb, how do I know that I won't lose the entire colony?

I've smeared the bars with beeswax like I learned to...

[beenovice]

That swarm that is like you say balled around the queen is making comb ;) You just don't see it yet :)

[trapperbob]

If the queen has been with them for a while turn her loose before you do spray the bees with sugar water the queen included then turn her loose keep feeding. My TBH had 8.5 combs built in about 15 days just keep the feed going until the broodnest has enough comb then let them build the comb on there own so they store real honey not sugar water that is what will be best for them for winter stores. Some people suggest not harvesting the first season that way come next spring they will have enough stores to start out with and you will learn how many bars of honey you can harvest safely so as not to starve them over the winter.

[Hambone]

Patience young grasshopper. Well thats kinda hard for me to say.

Here is after day 3

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/36471/2225625000103391520S600x600Q85.jpg

[Brent Bean]

If you just installed them a day ago, leave them alone, patience is the key. They have been shaken bumped and dropped give them a chance to settle in their new abode. They know what to do and how to do it.
I will lightly smoke them ( and never bother them after DARK) and quickly check them after three for four days to see if the queen has been released, she usually is, if not let her out. Then close them back up and wait at least a week ( no peeking) then you should be pleasantly surprised to see new comb and brood.
If you are in a nectar flow, which for your area you are, you will be able to tell when they have brood by watching foragers bring in pollen, which is essential to brood development.
A good book to read is “ At the Hive Entrance” by H. Storach. You can get a copy and betterbee.com.

[mxr618]

Ok, ok. I'm a jittery newbie. :)

I will get another bag of syrup together for them and leave them alone. I'll check the queen on Friday (day four).

If this is how it goes with bugs, I wonder what I'm going to be like when my wife and I have KIDS.

You guys are great!

[deknow]

....if your wife lays eggs (1-2000 a day), you've got a big adventure in front of you!

deknow

[buckbee]

....if your wife lays eggs (1-2000 a day), you've got a big adventure in front of you!


If your wife lays eggs at all, I would get her to a doctor, and quick! :eek:

[Brent Bean]

Beekeeping and having kids are a lot alike, it gets easier with experience. Well beekeeping dose anyway.