Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS => Topic started by: melliphile on September 22, 2009, 11:35:06 pm

Title: Yet another foundationless question.
Post by: melliphile on September 22, 2009, 11:35:06 pm

   I getting prepared for trying top bar and foundationless next spring.  I was planning on using wood glue and popsicle sticks as starter strips. Is there any gain by putting starter strips on the bottom groove of the frame, or would this be a wasted effort?

Title: Re: Yet another foundationless question.
Post by: poka-bee on September 23, 2009, 01:30:15 am

The bees start at the top & work their way down so starter strips at the bottom don't help. 
Jody

Title: Re: Yet another foundationless question.
Post by: beedad on September 27, 2009, 05:17:03 pm

whatever you use to give the bees a guide ie Popsicle sticks, make sure that it runs the whole width of the hive.  i tried popsicle sticks in my tbh's and they worked fine except i didnt go the width of the hive.  so at the ends the bees usually curve the comb toward the front of the hive.  next year im going to use triangle bottoms on my top bars.

Title: Re: Yet another foundationless question.
Post by: Michael Bush on September 27, 2009, 05:52:01 pm

>Is there any gain by putting starter strips on the bottom groove of the frame, or would this be a wasted effort?

I don't think it's worth the effort, but it will encourage them to attach the bottom sooner.

Title: Re: Yet another foundationless question.
Post by: melliphile on September 27, 2009, 09:24:58 pm

Thank you all for your input.  I'm glad I asked before I did it.