Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[nichole]

This is our first year with bees. We got our package on April 12th and installed them in our top bar hive the next day. My husband built our hive and made a viewing window on the side. We didn't know we were supposed to pull out the bars after a few days to do an inspection, so we just used the window. After a few weeks we finally saw comb, but realized that they have built it in between the bars so we can't pull them out. From what we can see through the window, all the comb is still empty (maybe there's brood in the middle and the other side of the comb??). How long does it take to see something, and what do we do about the comb? There are probably 5-7 combs now. I'm starting to feel like we jumped into this before we were ready!

[Bugscouter]

nichole,

Where in Northern California are you?

You can use the search bar above to search this forum for help on "Cross Comb". There are also a few YouTube videos that can help. You do need to straighten it out though. Comb will not straighten itself. What do you mean by in between the bars? What type of comb guide are you using? How wide are your bars?

The eggs are extremely difficult to see, especially on new white comb. You'll need to look the comb straight on.

[rmcpb]

Yep, you need to go in and reattach the comb to the topbars properly so the bees will continue correctly. Hopefully you are using some sort of comb guide to give them a hint. Reduce the number of bars available to the bees as well, they only need a couple more than they have built on in the beginning.

As for seeing "something" in the comb, you have new comb so seeing eggs will be HARD but from your description it seems to be no problem as they are building comb and doing what bees do so its a "just wait" moment. When you are fixing your comb you will see the eggs and larvae.

Cheers
Rob.