Aaackkk! What do i do??

[MegP]

Ok, so this is a bot of a boast post but I seriously dont know what to do since I don't have a centrifuge and no one else near me does either but my bees built up and filled two shallows in a less than month and now I am in a panic to get another one on there but I don't have one. It was ordered last week from Brushy Mtn but I literally need to put something on there like, THIS WEEKEND or else i'm certain they will swarm.

what do i do?? i want to extract some honey but the comb is built on crimped wire foundation and i was advised not to put empty frames with no foundation in the hive.

Gah! i feel so stupid. I had no idea how truly quickly they work. please give me advice IM SCARED.

[alpha6]

Don't panic. Pull one super of filled frames off and pull every other one. Place empty, foundationless frames between the filled comb. Replace on the hive. They will build out and fill those frames. You may get a little burr comb between the filled out frames and the empty frames but not much and you can just run your hive tool down to cut them when you go to pull the frames.

[MegP]

they will build onto an empty frame?

[USCBeeMan]

Put a paint stirring stick middle ways at the top of the frame and nail it. I have dones this on a few frames as a test for using strips instead of foundation. Bees will start making comg on the stick and then spread it out until they cover the complete frame with comb.

[Hambone]

Yes. Either pop out the wedge and place it facing down. Or place half paint sticks or popsicle sticks in the groove as a comb guide (glue them in) Works great.

[donniethebeeman]

for years my grandpa never used any kind of foundation in his hives anywhere. Yes it does make for much nicer comb and less bridging but you can put some empty frames in there and the bees will know what to do with them. the popcicle stick is a good idea though anything that will help give them a guide and a little extra support. i have placed whole supers on hives with no foundation when i was in a pinch and a hurry and they filled them up just fine.

[MegP]

so just a frame (4 sides in tact) and a popsicle stick in the upper groove to help guide the bees and that should be good enough until i get my new super and frames on there?