Finally.. they drew out part of a frame. Does this look like good??

[Dan. NY]

In the link are several images of a frame that my girls finally drew out. Does this look good? First one they drew and it is just over one months work. Seems kind of slow. But.. how does it look to everyone??? thanks.

http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e195/dansvines/

[KQ6AR]

Hi Dan,
That is very slow, are these you're brood boxes? Are you feeding?
I'd cut of the piece of comb that isn't attached to the foundation.

[johnblagg]

ok are you saying that is the only frame they have done in the entire hive....if so you have a problem of some sort

[LandellApiaries]

Dan,
What are you using in your hives. 1 month per frame is a very very long time. Are you just switching over to plastic frames? Did you try spraying down the frames with sugar water to persuade the bees to accept them and or feeding? Give us some more info and we may be able to help you better.

I would cut off the comb that is built off the surface of the foundation. That will surely cause you problems later.

[okbees]

I call it fin comb......when it happens on plastic foundation, I scrape it off and rub wax on the foundation (re waxing the foundation)...then spray with 1:1 syrup and put back in the hive. You shouldn't have any problems then.

[Dan. NY]

My bees came from a NUC that had 2-3 frames drawn out. I added my own frames, put sugar water on them, and fed 1:1. They took very very slowly. It appeared as though they were not taking it so I removed it about 2 weeks ago. This plastic frame was actually drawn after I stopped feeding. The girls remain congregated on the drawn frames that came with the NUC, and this one frame I added. I do think there is food around, as I have seen bees, hopefully mine, working some type of plant nearby the hive. There is also clover here and there, and what looks like purple thistles flowering.

If you look closely at the images, you can see a kind of "tunnel" like area on either side in the very middle of the frame. The comb is raised up off the foundation more than the surrounding area. The bees actually can crawl under the edges of this and it is a "tunnel" of sorts. You can see at the bottom a kind of "V" shaped area just above the burr comb on the bottom. The comb doesnt look quite right to me, but since I am new at all this I am not sure. I wondered if this is normal, should I knock down the comb there or leave it.

Thanks.

[Omie]

Dan, the bees should not be able to draw out 'fins' of comb on top of comb- unless you are spacing your frames too far apart. Make sure the frames are all pushed tightly together in the middle of your box. Leave any space to the very sides next to the wood walls. Cut off the fins and push your frames together tightly.
I can't comment on the slow drawing of the plastic foundation, since I don't use plastic foundation. My bees are not as slow in drawing comb- I use both wax foundation and foundationless.

[KQ6AR]

Occasionally we get a little comb like that even with the frames tight. We just remove it.
My concern is that you're bees are building up so slowly. Is the queen laying lots of brood on the other frames?
If you're running 3 mediums as you're brood boxes, you still have about 27 frames that need to be drawn out before fall.