Hello
I am new to beekeeping and will have my nucs in a few weeks. I have been doing a lot of studying in preparation.
Over the last few months, I have been purchasing equipment and getting ready for my bees. Recently, I bought some beeswax blocks from a beekeeping supplier for coating the guidebars of foundationless frames. Given I tend to overthink things, I had the following thoughts.
If a new colony (nuc) uses a lot of time, energy, and resources drawing new comb, and they do recycle wax in the hive, would it be beneficial (and speed up drawing comb) to place a one pound block of wax in the hive to provide resources for them to use ?
Understanding that there is a risk of disease, but, that would already exist using the wax for the guidebars. I would like to think that the wax may have been irridated or, at least, the heat in melting wax would eliminate (or reduce) the risk of disease or contamination.
What are your thoughts on placing a block of wax in the hive ?
They won’t use it…
I agree with @Dawn_SD 's definite answer. What you could do is see if the supplier will take it back & give you credit for you to purchase wax foundation sheets. Then find a mentor or join a bee club to help you fit them into the frames.
If you must go with foundationless frames, about the only thing you could do with the wax is melt some to coat the starter strips. Which probably isn’t necessary anyway.
Thanks for the reply
Thanks for the reply
I purchased the wax to coat the guidebars (starter strips) to do foundationless. So, the thought of putting some of the remaining wax in the hive was just an afterthought.
As far as a beekeeper association, there are some in the area and I plan on attending meetings. Unfortunately, they only meet once a month and I have missed the last two due to work. Hopefully, I make it to the next meeting.
There’s been some suggestion that coating the guide bars actually weakens the attachment of the comb to the frame.
If the supplier won’t accept your return, you could melt some wax to use to coat your flow frames, or wax some plastic foundation.
There are lots of uses for the wax outside of the hive too, of course!
Thanks for the reply
I used my block of wax to scratch on the flow hive frames. It encourages them to use it.