Questions ?

[Mikey N.C.]

When you build up nucs into, 10 frame deeps , 2 deep , then add med. super without drawn comb, what is the time line when , they start to draw comb, or do ya have to add drawn frames?

[G3farms]

There is no set time line.
They will only draw comb if they need it.
Say a tremendous flow is on, you can bet the comb will be built over night.
Right now we are in a dearth (not much of anything blooming, very hot and DRY) the bees are just kind of stagnate, they will not draw any comb out or will do so slowly. Stick a feeder on them and the comb drawing will start to pick up again. 

[Chip Euliss]

Mikey, I draw new comb each year to recycle the old stuff.  I start my splits in early May (using 2 frames of brood the first week, 3 the second, etc) , a pollen frame and at least one frame of honey.  After the new queen is laying, I try my best to keep the feeder full and a pollen sub patty on them at all times.  Here, I can often add the 2nd deep in 2 weeks.  When I do, I move the feeder up to the 2nd box and put a foundation frame next to the brood in the bottom box.  The top box has a feeder, a good comb, a foundation frame, 3 good comb frames, a foundation frame and then 2 comb frames.  That way, each hive draws out 3 new frames each year.  I keep adding pollen sub till I can smell "bee bread" but continue adding syrup till all the new foundation is drawn out completely.  For here, the 2nd box will only take a couple of weeks, maybe a little more, to fill out and be ready for honey supers.  Just like drawing comb in the 2 deeps, the trick to getting them to draw out foundation in your supers is to time it so your 2 bottom boxes are busting with bees when your nectar flow hits.  A red-hot brood nest coupled with an intense nectar flow will get those super foundation frames drawn out pretty quick.

[apisbees]

Place on whatever you have. using foundation at times the bees will back fill the brood supers rather than readily draw comb so drawn comb has the advantage that the bees can store in it right away and tend not to back fill the brood frames. Foundation is better than no frames at all. With supers of foundation place them on 1 at a time and in between any supers of honey or supers that are partially drawn out and leave the excluder off if drawing out foundation.

[Chip Euliss]

Good point Apis.  Bottom supering is great but a tad hard on the back--I've done my share.  Now when I draw new foundation frames in my honey supers, I add them in the #3 and #7 position in a 9-frame configuration where the other positions are drawn comb.  If you're drawing a whole box of foundation, fill it up!  10 frame or 8, depending on what size hives you have.

[Bakersdozen]

Foundation is better than no frames at all. With supers of foundation place them on 1 at a time and in between any supers of honey or supers that are partially drawn out and leave the excluder off if drawing out foundation.

That's what I did today.  I placed a super with new foundation on under two supers.  The bees have them almost filled but not capped.  I am hoping that there is enough honey flow left for them to draw out the combs at the very least.  We typically can go to July 4th with nectar flow.

[Mikey N.C.]

I don't have any drawn med. frames. Last year I added med. super 28 June and by Aug. they hadn't touched the super,I lost that hive ,they back filled the brood chambers and the queen had nowhere to lay and absconded, I definitely don't want that to happen again, so should I try and get some drawn med. frames say maybe 3 per box ?

[Chip Euliss]

Sounds like your flows aren't very strong.  Here, if the flow is weak, the bees do just as you describe when the flow is poor.  You might try making them draw your frames but feeding a dilute (1:1 or even weaker) solution of sugar syrup.  They draw comb well on it.  After you draw it, you can always feed it back to them and use the comb they leave to catch your next nectar flow for real honey.  Good comb is a beekeeper's prize possession.  In my part of the world, the flow can get so strong at times that I've had 2 deep supers with unwaxed foundation drawn and capped with honey in 2.5 weeks.  Wish it happened like that all the time but it doesn't.  If I'm short super comb, I add 2 foundations to each super of drawn comb at position #3 and #7.  The foundations get drawn when the flow gets serious.

[Mikey N.C.]

Yes, I've been feeding.  I feed them last year and I think that's what they back filled with

[iddee]

Put a couple of medium frames in the deep box until they start drawing them. Then trim the bottom if needed and put in the super.

[Chip Euliss]

Put a couple of medium frames in the deep box until they start drawing them. Then trim the bottom if needed and put in the super.

Great idea

[Mikey N.C.]

These are full foundation 9 In 10 med. I'm worried about over feeding., an back filling, Boston butt  , been on the grill  for 4 hrs. With oak,an hickory

[iddee]

Worried about over feeding the bees or you? That Boston Butt will overfeed you real quick.    If you are using all mediums, then checkerboard the frames between the two boxes.