Need Advice About New Comb

[JMat]

Picked up my first 5 frame Nuc's a week ago and opened them up today to check things out and give them more pollen substitute... One has a standard bottom board while the other has a Country Rubes' bottom board and that is the one I have a question about.

I know the Country Rubes' bottom board has extra space between the bottom of the frames and the screen in order to place the plastic board above the screen for areas with cold weather and/or for using certain mite controls but my bees turned that extra space into comb. Now I know that bee space is important to keep the bees building comb correctly but I hadn't thought of or seen any posts about what the bees might do with this extra space but my bees had added an inch+ to the bottom of all 5 frames and hadn't drawn any new comb on the foundation that was added when they were installed.

I guess my question is... Have any of you seen the same thing and if so do I leave it or keep removing it when I go in? It's not burr comb and wasn't attached to anything but the bottom of the frame but they hadn't drawn any of the foundation and seemed to have spent their efforts doing this. I've been feeding them a 1:1 and included pollen substitute on top of the fact that we have a pretty good honey flow right now. Should I leave the comb, take it out or is there another option?

I've included a picture of what I'm talking about... It was the one with the least amount of comb drawn along the bottom but at luck would have it the only picture that turned out decent, most had that comb along the full length of the frame. These are my first hives and I could really use some advice.

Thanks, John

[Charlie B]

They all do that to some extent. I cut it out when I have time.

[Joseph Clemens]

If you carefully scrape it off and save it almost every time you see it, it is a fairly good way to collect a nice amount of beeswax.

[Ravenseye]

I rest the frame on the upside down outer cover and scrape the excess comb off. When I'm done with the inspection I toss the bits of comb into my toolbox and bring them back. As Joseph said, you collect a lot like that.

[fish_stix]

That meets my definition of burr comb! It won't hurt anything to just leave it but they mostly build drone comb in places like that so you could use it as a varroa control. When it gets full of capped drone brood cut it off with your hive tool and freeze it or melt it down. Varroa are drawn to drone comb and every little bit helps in the "mite wars."

[robherc]

I guess my question is... Have any of you seen the same thing and if so do I leave it or keep removing it when I go in? It's not burr comb and wasn't attached to anything but the bottom of the frame but they hadn't drawn any of the foundation and seemed to have spent their efforts doing this. I've been feeding them a 1:1 and included pollen substitute on top of the fact that we have a pretty good honey flow right now. Should I leave the comb, take it out or is there another option?

If the bees spent all their efforts drawing that out instead of the foundation you want drawn, don't cut it off! If you cut it off, then they'll probably rebuild it before drawing the foundation too, so just leave it, at least until they draw out that foundation.

[JMat]

Thanks for the responses everyone... This Sunday I'll be going in again looking for signs that both are queen right and drawing comb, if they've done it again I guess I'll leave it for now and hope they start focusing their efforts on drawing the foundation.

These are my first hives so I spend a lot of time watching them and trying to figure out they do what they do... It's like a new addition to the family.

[wcubed]

That comb has purpose. The intent is to provide access to the active comb above. Natural comb stops about 3/4 to 7/8 inches above the bottom surface of the cavity. For lack of a better description, we call it the "jump up" distance. Standard bottom boards use the rim to provide the natural clearance.

The recommendation from here is fix it. Why would you want to impede traffic to the comb in use, or siphon off energy from a colony in the establishment mode by making them do it again? Wax is not worth that much. Close the gap.

Walt

[woodedareas]

It is not the Country Rubes product. I use them and they work great. I do not consider myself to be an expert as i do follow this forum which is excellent for advice and information. The Rubes bottoms are very well made and the area to slide in plastic mite count sheets is excellent as it also provides some insulation in cold weather. I remove burr comb only when it precludes keeping my frames together otherwise I leave it until it becomes problematic. The Rubes products are very well made but rather pricey, however, they last.By the way bees can jump and fly.

[wcubed]

It's your gear and your call, but if it's not a problem, why did you ask?
Walt

[robherc]

JMat is the OP
(self-edited for being off-topic)

[wcubed]

My mistake. Thought the response from woodedareas came from the OP. So, suspend me, without pay.
Walt

[robherc]

That's ok...that's kinda what I was guessing had happened; just wanted to make sure nobody got offended unintentionally