Comb Question from NewBee

[gregsky88]

Based on what we researched, we built out TBH with 1.25 bars for brood comb placed toward the entrance and 1.50 bars for honey comb placed further away. My 1 month old package bees are building straight comb along the 1/8" wax coated, wood strips we placed in the center of the bars. I have placed empty bars between building comb on three occasions. Maybe I have not examined closely enough not wanting to disturb their work but I cannot distinguish what is what. Is the different bar width even relevant? Will they build what they want where they want?
A local Langstrom beekeeper told me that they build brood in the middle surrounded by pollen and then honey on the same comb and at some point start storing only honey. Any experienced TBH input?

[mjtracy]

On my TBs I use all 1.5" bars. The point of TBs is to keep things simple and cheap!

3 years on one hive and haven't had any comb problems.

I do prefer the Langs overall for ease of maintenance and manipulation.

The TBs are a fun experiment.

[gregsky88]

On my TBs I use all 1.5" bars. The point of TBs is to keep things simple and cheap!

3 years on one hive and haven't had any comb problems.

I do prefer the Langs overall for ease of maintenance and manipulation.

The TBs are a fun experiment.

Thanks for the reply.
I am in West Texas and this is an experiment..lots of wind and not sure about the forage around so hated to go in with big $$$ to find an impossible situation. Still feeding cane sugar water but intend to back off and let the girls spread out some.

[mjtracy]

If there is nectar available, the bees will ignore the syrup. Feed them until they don't take anymore, especially if they are still building out comb. They won't become dependant on syrup.

[brianbonner]

Interesting, I do like the spacers so I can remove a 14" spacer and look into the hive without removing the bars, but I like the simplicity of all one size, although my study say 1-58ths for honey comb, but you say 1.5 works. I think next hive I will try 1.5" what length/width hive are you running?

[gregsky88]

Interesting, I do like the spacers so I can remove a 14" spacer and look into the hive without removing the bars, but I like the simplicity of all one size, although my study say 1-58ths for honey comb, but you say 1.5 works. I think next hive I will try 1.5" what length/width hive are you running?

36"

[Michael Bush]

I used to run all 1 1/2" and they cheated every bar less in the brood area until they were in between two bars instead of on the bar. Once I realized their brood was 1 1/4" I decided not to fight them. If you put a bar of any width from 1 1/2" to 1 1/4" in between two drawn brood combs they will simply draw a perfect comb down the middle. It's when they are building the NEXT bar out that they judge the distance and make it what they want. When they build honey they don't tend to be happy with 1 1/4" and tend to make it more like 1 1/2". As long as you can keep each comb on one bar you are doing fine.

[Adam Foster Collins]

I've got tbh's in their third year. I use 1.25" for brood and 1.5" for honey. You mix and match to some extent as you adjust for variations, but once they get to storing, those honeycombs can get so wide that you want even more than the 1.5" spacing. I find that the last couple of combs of the season get kind of crazy, so I usually cut them at season end with harvest.

I also have some strips of wood I can use as spacers if necessary.

Adam

[mrobinson]

It's when they are building the NEXT bar out that they judge the distance and make it what they want.

I too am wondering (and am yet to see) what effect "sticking a blank bar into the gap" may have.

[mjtracy]

My hives are 40"x 16". 25 bars. My 3 yr old hive is drawn out 22 bars.