BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER > NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS
Foundationless Hive
ME0505:
Hello from Ohio, USA!
I am a "one year newbie" so please forgive me if anything I say is off base, crazy, etc.... I'm still learning.
Having said that I am a newbie, I started last year with two hives (two deeps each) and two packages of bees. One hive swarmed mid-summer, and limped by the rest of the year. The other hive seemed pretty good all year. Being new, I was afraid to open the hives up when it got cold, so I haven't been in the hives in a while. I talked to a local beekeeper and he said it was okay to open. As soon as we get a decent day, I'm going in.
With all that, I am pretty sure the swarmed hive is gone, just need to confirm.
I want to keep learning and trying, so I have ordered more packages for this spring. I also have been reading "The Practical Beekeeper" and want to try Mr. Bush's approach. I am looking at 10 frame Supers with a top entrance. I also want to try foundationless frames so as to have natural size comb/bees. One thing I noticed in my hives was Varroa, want to work on eliminating this occurrence...like everyone else
Going foundationless, is there anything "special" I need to know/do before I install the bees? I know I need to put strips or some starter to keep the comb aligned in the frame. Is there anything else, or do I just "dump them in" and let them do their thing?
Thanks for any help!
Eric
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
cao:
Welcome. The main advise that I have for people wanting to go foundationless is the bees need a guide to build straight comb. Starter strips are good but not foolproof. I've had them build at a 45 degree angle across 5 foundationless frames before I caught them. What a mess. If you have at least one frame of drawn comb for them to use as a guide, that would be ideal. Even one frame with foundation would help. I would put it in the center when you install your packages. Good luck.
KPF:
--- Quote from: ME0505 on February 12, 2016, 07:28:42 pm ---Hello from Ohio, USA!
I am a "one year newbie" so please forgive me if anything I say is off base, crazy, etc.... I'm still learning.
Having said that I am a newbie, I started last year with two hives (two deeps each) and two packages of bees. One hive swarmed mid-summer, and limped by the rest of the year. The other hive seemed pretty good all year. Being new, I was afraid to open the hives up when it got cold, so I haven't been in the hives in a while. I talked to a local beekeeper and he said it was okay to open. As soon as we get a decent day, I'm going in.
With all that, I am pretty sure the swarmed hive is gone, just need to confirm.
I want to keep learning and trying, so I have ordered more packages for this spring. I also have been reading "The Practical Beekeeper" and want to try Mr. Bush's approach. I am looking at 10 frame Supers with a top entrance. I also want to try foundationless frames so as to have natural size comb/bees. One thing I noticed in my hives was Varroa, want to work on eliminating this occurrence...like everyone else
Going foundationless, is there anything "special" I need to know/do before I install the bees? I know I need to put strips or some starter to keep the comb aligned in the frame. Is there anything else, or do I just "dump them in" and let them do their thing?
Thanks for any help!
Eric
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
--- End quote ---
Eric, I'm the last person in the world to give you advice on this, since I have no experience with foundationless frames, but like you I am a 1-year newbie and I also have 50 Kelley Foundationless Frames in my garage that have yet to be used (though they will be eventually). I also had two hives, one of which swarmed and peetered out and 1 of which absconded in early winter. All I can tell you is reports I've heard from other members in my club, and some members find they have one hot mess in their hands when they first try foundationless. Now this may be largely due to beekeeper inexperience, and maybe you have to dive in and experience a few hot messes before you get it right, but if I were you, I'd hedge my bets. Maybe go partly foundationless (ie, put a few foundationless frames in between foundation frames) and maybe see if a local beek with experience in this area can be your mentor. You've already got Michael Bush's book, so that's a great place to start. In my opinion, which I reiterate, is an uninformed opinion of a 1-year beek, is that there is so much to learn about good beekeeping that going foundationless might be something you defer til a little later in your beekeeping career. Then again, life is for the bold. The worst that can happen is you learn something, and that ain't so bad. Good luck!
iddee:
It's just my opinion, but when I hear a new beek saying "I want to go foundationless in 8 frame mediums, I hear:
""I want to learn to fly. I want to start as a fighter jet test pilot. Don't bother me with a Piper.""
I suggest learning the basics first, then try the peripherals.
gww:
iddee
To your point, I have seen it pointed out that starting with foundationless is easier then having a long term foundation user go foundationless due to the habit formed while working with foundation forming habits that are hard to break after doing for so long.
I plan on going foundationless first but my motivation is that I can build everthing without buying stuff. I don't have enough experiance to say I am smart for doing this as I still haven't got bees and have had the equipment for 2 years. I tried trapping and am still trying though I do have a nuc supposed to come in spring.
I hope it works but many times take the long road to learn what I need to know.
Cheers
gww
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