In his helpful response to questions of why bees are not drawing comb, Scott
said "Bottom line is, bees only build as much comb as they need. If they
haven't
drawn it out yet, they don't need it."

Well, maybe...

IMHO, a more likely reason is that the hive does not yet have enough bees of
an appropriate age to draw comb.

When bees are being fed to draw foundation, it is not unusual to see little
comb drawn for the first 4 weeks or so.  What is going on in the interim is
that the feed is being converted into brood.  Once that brood 'hatches',
they start out as nurse bees and then move into the stage where they will
produce wax...if there continues to be enough food to produce that wax.
Because of the feeding, the supply of bees of an appropriate age to maximize
wax production will double or triple in just a few days.

I have seen situations where a gallon of syrup was taken over 3 weeks, with
virtually no comb built, and then the next gallon was taken in a week and 10
frames in a deep were drawn in less than a week!

Don't get discouraged.  Keep feeding.  The comb will get drawn!


Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacturers of Ross Rounds Comb
Honey Equipment, Sundance Pollen Traps
and Custom Printer of Sundance Labels.

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