Rather than hanging on the shirttails of other's topics, I thought I would post here.
In both of my topbar hives, I messed up by leaving space open on installation. One hive really had fun and made a mess of it.
I went in last night and cut down double combs, attached (to another) combs and too-big, wide combs. There were 3 sizable chunks of broodnest that I took down.
Here are my questions:
1. Is the main importance cleaning this up so that I can inspect easily when I go in?
2. Will the bees use this brood nest over and over and over? So, the sooner I get them doing it orderly, the better?
3. I didn't know what to do with the brood I took down so propped it up against the back walls of the hive, near the feeder and follower board. Is that okay? Can they keep it warm enough to hatch? Will the queen find it and lay in it again?