Not Drawing out new frames

[tdnp]

This is our second year. Last years hive was great no issues. This year we tried a spilt everthing was going fine. They drew out and laid 7/10 of the frames and we added a another brood box, new frames and coated foundations, we opened it up and they are not drawing out the new frames, its been about a week and a half. We are feeding a fair amount not full all the time, but we are feeding.

Any ideas?

[adam@azapiaries]

There are three things needed for comb production. 1) A need for additional space . 2) A strong force of young, healthy bees. 3) Adequate nectar or sugar syrup. Like the fire triangle, remove any one of these components and there will be no new comb.

[JRG13]

They still have 3 frames they're working on, might take a couple weeks to move up. How's your pollen/nectar flow? If you're feeding but there's not a big flow going on they can't store it so they won't draw new comb. Also, you have to consider timing of those drawn frames.... if they're all hatching out about now, that's opening a lot of space to refill for the queen so it'll take longer to move up.

[scdw43]

This is what I think, if you are going to feed and there is not a flow going on, you have to keep feed on them all the time to keep them working. Depending on what race of bees you have, every time they run out of feed they could shut the queen down. When the queen shuts down guess what, they don't think they need additional space ie. comb. Some people put three gallons of feed in a top feeder once every two weeks. This time of year that feed will be about 90 proof in a week, the bees don't want it, won't eat it. It is better to feed smaller amounts several times a week if you are trying to get them to draw comb. If a feeder ferments and you don't rinse it out with clorox water and pour more feed in it, it ferments twice as fast as the last feed. Just my opinion.

[Andrew Dewey]

I think I'm hearing in the above responses that you added your new brood chamber before the bees were ready for it.

[hoodswoods]

I think I'm hearing in the above responses that you added your new brood chamber before the bees were ready for it.

Perhaps an understated tendency, for which I am as much at fault as others who are anxious to build up their hives.

I have followed 'tradition' on all but one of my hives this year and their growth has been similar to what I have previously experienced - not what I want, but a viable expansion.

I was very late to expand 1 hive this year, and they literally boiled out of that single deep like something out of one of the indiana jones movies. Probably lucky they didn't swarm. 100 lbs of honey this spring with 2 deeps and a medium full of brood.

It appears to be a fine line between the turtle and the hare. Without constant monitoring to anticipate their tendencies, how is one to know? Next year I am going to be a bit more conservative in adding space, even if it costs me a swarm and see how that works