Two weeks prior to making this video, I installed a box on my hive where every second frame was completely empty. (See post) Other than a small wax starter strip, the frames had absolutely no foundation. In two weeks, my busy ladies have created some beautiful, pristine, white comb. I started this as an experiment, and I believe this experiment was quite successful. Here’s my update video:
Isn’t that incredible how quickly they can draw out their combs? I’m really impressed with the results. Good job Chris!
Thanks Marc. I was definitely impressed at how quickly they were able to fill the frames. This wasn’t the only frame that was completely drawn out.
Beauty. Well done Chris.
Nice to see the video, keep ’em coming.
Very cool! I should label my frames like you did. I was able to spin honey from one of our foundationless frames albeit slower than usual.
That’s beautiful. It’s that kind of thing that makes me love beekeeping, or bees.
I accidentally put a foundationless frame in my homemade extractor, and it was destroyed instantly.
That’s a good tip about not using an extractor. 🙂 I have taken a couple foundationless frames and created some cut comb honey for friends and family. I’ll post some videos of that soon.
[…] you have missed my previous videos, I have experimented quite successfully with using “foundationless” frames in my hive. These frames were drawn out and then […]
It’s been a few years since you tried the foundationless frames. Are you still using them? What advantages/disadvantages did you find over time?
Yes! I am still using foundationless frames. Typically I’ll alternate foundation frames with foundationless frames within a box. The purpose of alternating them is to discourage the bees from building cross-comb (perpendicular to the frames).
The only disadvantage that I have ever experienced is that you cannot extract honey from foundationless frames using a honey extractor. However, they’re great for cut-comb honey since all the wax is brand new and natural.
Beautiful! The issue I have with foundation is that it bends and sags so that the bees end up rebuilding it anyway. I may try the alternating method in the spring! Thank you for sharing!