Bottoms up!?

[newbeemike]

I know people tend to build from the bottom up. But I thought bees always built from the top down?!?


I'm doing an H3 hive with open frames. Actually, I'm doing 2 that way. Both colonies in one hive are doing great. Combs are just the way they should be. In the other hive, the colony on one side is doing great and the other built perfect comb in the bottom box. But when they go to the second box, they decided to build the comb at ~45 degrees to the frames. (did I mention I forgot to wax the starter strips in this hive?). So last week I cut the angled comb off and tied it on straight into a frame with a waxed starter strip. Also swapped out the other frames with waxed ones. This week I come back and it's even worse! In the next picture you can see the piece I tied on. But instead of building from that, they started building from the bottom at an angle.

I should have taken a picture of the mess in the hive, but I didn't have my camera. It was way worse than what you see here.

My solution was to remove all the frames and comb from the second box and replace it with foundation. I'll see next week if that works.

Anybody seen this before? I've read a lot of books but haven't come across it yet. The common comment is "the bees just haven't read the books!". Personally I think they have and they just keep finding ways to screw with our heads.

[AR Beekeeper]

Yes, I have had bee start to draw foundation from the bottom bar up. This was when the super of foundations was placed above the brood nest. My bees in Langstroth equipment have not read the books, or the Forums!

[USCBeeMan]

Is the hive level from side to side?

[newbeemike]

Yes, perfectly level. An H3 using open frames has to be level both directions.

The problem isn't level related. The combs are built nicely vertical, just upside down and at a horizontal angle, not vertical angle. It's just weird them building from the bottom up.

[BEES4U]

You might try placing you new frame between two fully drawn out combs to prevent natural comb.
Good luck,
Ernie

[Michael Bush]

Try moving the box below the one that is drawn. Bees, contrary to popular belief, like to work down from where they are. But they will work up if they have to. If you don't want to do that then pull some drawn comb up for a ladder.