[rtaylor]

3 weeks ago my hives were running low on stores. I had a feeder shim on with mountain camp. One of my hives died earlier in the year so I had a fair amount of honey left over. I didn't want to be super intrusive in the colder temperatures so instead of removing the feeder shim I just set the box of honey on top of it. What could go wrong it's wintertime after all? Well I checked the bees yesterday and they filled every square inch of that feeder rim between the boxes with comb and tons of drones. I am guessing they took the honey and converted it to fresh comb??? Nothing is blooming yet. Anyway the lesson is not to create any space even in winter because they will find a way to fill it.

 

[clyderoad]

Sounds like you left the feed and shim on too long or the bees didn't need the feed, or both.
Cut it out, all that drone brood is quite the varroa trap and dispose of it.

 

[gww]

rt
I always liked shims. When I saw a little comb being drawn in them, It told me it was time to open the brood nest or add space. It was the earliest thing that I would watch for. I am a newer bee keeper though and so this is just how I thought and not so much advice.
Cheers
gww

 

[rwlaw]

Ya, give them space and warmer weather and they will build in it! I’ve forgotten to take the shims off and gotten into some interesting situations too.

 

[JConnolly]

Wait?! What??? There's an easy way? :scratch:

 

[JWPalmer]

Give the bees a foundationless frame to build drone comb on and you won't see so much drone comb in the feeder shim. Once capped you can remove it as part of a mite management strategy and melt it down for wax.

 

[crab414]

That's a good idea JP. Other than chickens, what's the best way to remove the drone brood?

 

[JConnolly]

You can freeze it and then give it back to the hive. The girls will clean it up. It seems like a lousy chore but they don't seem to be complaining.

 

[crab414]

Will the ladies utilize the frozen remains or just chuck them poor males?

 

[JWPalmer]

Unless there is a severe protein shortage, I think they just drag the poor done larvae out the door. Auf wiedersehen. I just boil them with the wax and strain as I no longer have chucks to feed them to.