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beemaster:
Mixing frames can be complicated - staggering them is often the only way to get bees to make drawn frames if you are trying to create a second super full of drawn frames quickly. The good thing is that you can rotate and shuffle the frames around some and ONCE the bees start drawing comb on new foundation they will have a lot less problems drawing it out if you move those frames into a new super.

What they are doing of course is trying to make a BEE-MADE hive out of a MAN-MADE template - it's in their nature and forcing frame drawing isn't easy especially with new colonies. But sticking a second super full of undrawn frames on a hive usually ends up being untouched by the bees - so it really is a bakancing act that requires intervention and sometimes some trimming.

Sounds like you had a really pleasant experience in your hive though, that is always great to hear. Being Bee-minded really does help to lessen the stress and improve the experience to both you and the bees.

As Beth mentioned, your options in SEASON TWO are greatly expanded if the colony Winters well - an early Spring and a good size cluster make for magical growth in colony count in your bee yard.

I'm happy with three, right now they are side by side with little room between them - which is necessary in my case due to small property size and tree spacing. The hives on the end are easy to manipulate, I can do it from behind or from one side - the middle hive though is only accessable from the rear, which is about 2 foot from a 3 foot high picket fence, so my elbow room is reduced a bit.

But proper planning makes the difference no matter what your beeyard layout. Having tools handy and at working height makes a huge difference and greatly reduces back strain, etc..

Great job Kris - glad to see the forum is helping and there are no foolish questions, only needless beestings!

Mia:
Hi there,
I see lots of info on the topic of adding supers with new foundation.. I'm confused.

I bought two nucs, put them each in their own hive body and they are doing wonderful!  Nucs are wonderful!  I'm going out to look at them this weekend and I hope to find 7 or 8 frames in the hive box filled, so I'm going to add a second hive body to each.

The problem is, I ONLY have undrawn foundation in the second deeps.  What is going to be the best thing for me to do to get the bees to start working on drawing this out?  Also, would I put the queen excluder between the first deep and the second?

If I need to take frames out of the first deep, which do I take and where do I put them?  Do I need to spray the undrawn foundation with sugar water?  HELP PLEASE!! Thanks!
Mia.

Robo:
First of all don't use the queen excluder,  or you will never get them to draw out the foundation.  The bees need a reason to struggle thru a queen excluder, and bare foundation isn't something that will persuade them.

I would start by spraying the foundation with sugar syrup as a first attempt.  Remember,  make sure you have 10 frames and that they are all tight against each other.

Mia:
Would I have better luck if I wait till the first hives are "really" full?
Mia

Robo:
The problem with waiting until they are really full, is that there is a greater chance for them to swarm, which would really set your hives back.  There is no harm done by adding the super of foundation.  Just don't get too excited if they don't start drawing out the comb right away.  The room will be there, for when they feel they need it.

Just keep an eye on them, and if you see the first super getting really congested, and they haven't touch the foundation, then you might want to move a few frames of brood up to get them going.

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