Medium comb to deep super?

[CpnObvious]

Background to my question:  So a guy at work heard I was getting my bees this weekend.  We ran into each other in the hall today and he was all disappointed that he couldn't find anyone to get him bees this year, his single hive died over the winter. (sounds like he waited too long).  Well, I happened to know that the guy I'm getting mine from is coming back with a few extras, so I gave him a call.  He's going to bring 3 packages back for the guy I work with.  I'm gonna pick his up with mine and then he's gonna drive out to me to get them.

The question:  We were talking and I asked if he had any drawn comb he might be willing to part with so my bees aren't quite as far behind the 8-ball.  He does!  Then he told me that they are in medium frames... it ALL he uses so that absolutely everything is interchangeable.   I said:  "Cool! That'll work!  Thank you!"  My though was to nicely cut the comb from the frames and to rubber-band it into the deep frames the way y'all do when collecting a swarm from somewhere...  Think that will work?

[pistolpete]

Seems to me like you're going to be messing up perfectly good frames.  I have seem medium frames that were stuck into a deep box.  The bees just added a bunch of comb below the bottom bar.  Mind you this was a medium frame inserted between two deep frames.   I take it you're after a place for the queen to start laying immediately.  I think it's worth a try, but would limit it to one frame/hive.

[tbonekel]

You know what would be cool? Somebody should invent a convertible frame that starts out as a medium. Then when the bees fill it out, you could pop the bottom support off and add extensions to lengthen it to a deep. It would probably be very propolissy (new word), but they sell stranger things in a beekeeping catalog than that, I think.

[blueblood]

It will work.  Same difference if you were banding cut-out comb in the frame.

[riverbee]

it won't work if it's drawn plastic foundation.......

i am kind of with pete on the 'messing up perfectly good frames' and would as pete said, limit it.  at some point you might have to fix what the bees did to it.  on the other side, it doesn't take long for bees to draw foundation, as long as they are fed/nectar flow, and queens will lay in comb that isn't entirely drawn out.  maybe save these frames for medium supers?

good luck with it.

[Lburou]

Mixing deeps and medium frames in a deep hive body is doable but you will not like the comb as they build it below the medium frames.  You can move them to deeps over time. 

[CpnObvious]

Thank you guys! You kind of all added up to what I was thinking.  I'm not sure how many he's gonna give me... I really only asked for one, or one for each of the two, if he could spare it.  So it probably will only be one.  If opt to put the medium frame into the deep super, should I break off the bottom bars of t so they can continue what's there?

And yes, this is all assuming they're not plastic foundations.

[Garden Hive]

I would not adapt the frame at all. Just hang the medium in the middle with foundation in the frames on each side, if you decide to use it.
Do you have a medium that you intend to use later? Nothing wrong with starting them in the medium. Once they get that filled out, you could set it on top of the deep.
You are only gaining a minimal head start. They recognize the absence and the urgency to build when you place them in the hive on the foundation. If you feed them well to get them started, they will get going quickly. I don't think it's worth the time and effort or disruption to the brood nest to later remove the medium. JMO

That's what's great about this forum.....options 

[blueblood]

Why wouldn't they continue to draw the comb below the plastic medium foundation/comb? 

[Bamabww]

Why not just use the medium drawn out comb in a medium super? You're borrowing them, or the one, whatever he loans you, so in time you'll give them back. I'd just use the drawn comb in the shape / size it's already in and swap it out with him as your bees draw out the deep down the road.

I try to "keep it simple stupid", referring to me, not you, when I do anything with my bees.

[LazyBkpr]

They will continue to draw comb below the medium bar. I did it a few times before going to all mediums. Once in a while they will even attach it to the top bar of the hive below. It is a minor nuisance to deal with. I slowly rotated that frame to the outside edge over the course of about 5 weeks and then swapped it out with a correct frame.  No worries, no rush. One problem at a time, and before you know it we will be staring at snow covered hives.....

[riverbee]

this is what the capn said and asked:

"My thought was to nicely cut the comb from the frames and to rubber-band it into the deep frames the way y'all do when collecting a swarm from somewhere...  Think that will work?"

capn wants to cut comb out of medium frames and rubber band them in a deep frame.  correct capn?  (if it's plastic drawn, forget it. less you are really bored and like to complicate your life and looking for a challenge....... )

yes bees will draw comb below a medium frame stuck in a deep hive.......why waste that comb building when the bees could put their energies to comb building on the undrawn frames capn already has?   again, i would use the medium in a super.  i like what garden hive said, "I don't think it's worth the time and effort or disruption to the brood nest to later remove the medium. JMO"  and i like what wayne said about 'keeping it simple'.....

i tend to do the same an not complicate my life.......or the bees life......

but options as garden hive said.....

[CpnObvious]

River, yes, I phrased it that way... but I was kind of leaving it open to see what y'all had to say.  One of my thoughts, unless it is plastic frame, was to cut it out and band it, or just hang it , or, or, or... I'm (almost) always interested in hearing other people's opinions and thoughts.  Seeing the different ideas thy fly around here has helped me more than you know.  I taken some, rejected some, and adapted some.  Every little bit helps

Garden, no, I don't have any mediums.  I have 6 deeps and a whole bunch of smalls.  I like the idea of the mediums, but i do/will have my concerns down the road... Such as winters.  I worry they may not have enough food stores if the winter is exceptionally long.  I dunno.  First I should seehow this year goes.  See if I can even get through the first winter!

[LazyBkpr]

First I should seehow this year goes.  See if I can even get through the first winter!

   Good plan!!!

   Just thought I would mention that you would winter in three mediums if you switched, instead of the two deeps.. Same volume, one extra gap between frames to help travel, communication, clustering and moving to stores when its cold.
       all very much controversial but sounds good to me   

[riverbee]

"River, yes, I phrased it that way... but I was kind of leaving it open to see what y'all had to say.  One of my thoughts, unless it is plastic frame, was to cut it out and band it, or just hang it , or, or, or... I'm (almost) always interested in hearing other people's opinions and thoughts.  Seeing the different ideas thy fly around here has helped me more than you know.  I taken some, rejected some, and adapted some.  Every little bit helps "

absolutely, yes it does help, and take it all in and adapt for yourself.... and for myself wanted to clarify what you asked so you would get answers to your specific question.  you said you have 6 deeps and 'smalls', do you mean shallows, rather than medium boxes ?

[CpnObvious]

River,  Yep, that's what I meant.  My bad.  Trying to do too much at once!

[riverbee]

............

[CpnObvious]

So here's what he gave me... A total of four DEEP plastic frames that are about 35% filled with honey and almost completely drawn foundation. You can see in my pics http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,1415.0.html how I put my pollen patties in.  Should I disturb them tomorrow and put the honey in for them?  Maybe into positions 3&6 or 2&8 in the 10 frame deeps?

[riverbee]

well that's neat, deep drawn frames!  i would not disturb them.  let them release the queen, and only check in 3-4 days that they did, remove the cage, then let them alone again for another 7 days before poking around in there. you can add these frames later.  do you have feed on? (sorry if i missed this somewhere else).  congrats!!!

[CpnObvious]

Just saw this post, riverbee.  I did disturb them and give them the frames.  I couldn't resist!  I did resist hugging and petting and squeezing and kissing them and calling them "Fluffy".  Haven't seen pollen coming in yet, but I'm not really sure there's much around here yet.

I am feeding them, and I'm certain they have plenty!  I'll be at hive 2 & 3 tomorrow (apiary #2).  I'll lift the lids and check syrup, but won't disturb them any more than that... Unless y'all recommend waiting until Wednesday or Thursday to check syrup.  With all I've given them, how fast do you think they'll use it?