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Expanding Top-Bar Hive

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  JWPalmer 
#1 ·
The bees in my Top-Bar hive have stopped building comb backwards after their original manifest destiny push. About half the box is entirely empty and they're just focusing on the front (which is kinda getting overcrowded now, bees often are seen overflowing out the front entrance. There are spacers on the last half of the hive to encourage them to build honeycomb in the back. Can I shift some frames around to encourage more hive building? Are there some techniques? I've already rubbed beeswax on the frames.
 
#2 ·
Just shift your bars backwards and "checker-board" in a couple of empty bars into the brood area.
May build some more.

But do no more than 1-2 empty bars at this point.
Since you are in VA (see - mid-summer dearth), they are probably done with comb-building due to lack of incoming nectar.
 
#3 ·
Greg nailed it. There is no nectar and no pollen coming in right now. The bees are in contraction mode. You may be able to stimulate wax production by feeding heavily and giving pollen sub patties. That would be a personal decision, and could cause you to go into winter with a hive that is too strong for the accumulated stores to feed. Around mid-August things should get better, just need to get through the next four weeks.
 
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