@techieg33k Logan if I’m able to build a shade structure, then I’m sure that you can too.
The reason that I asked you about the situation that you found your hive in, was because I too have foundation-less frames in my hive, being that it is also a FH, and that we too can get summer daytime temperatures in the 40C+ range. That’s the reason why I resorted to building the shade structure that I have, I have also installed a water cooling system. I also have inserted a battery powered digital thermometer into the roof cavity to monitor the temp in it, but I’m seriously thinking about drilling a hole into the plug that’s in the timber plate that’s between the roof and the brood box, and putting the sensor in there instead, so to get an idea as to what the temp in the brood box actually is. It’s not just high temps either, but also low temps too, as we have low nighttime temps too, due to clear winter nights, that can result in heavy frosts, that are bad enough that they can even cause water pipes to freeze up. I’m lead to believe, that allowing a hive to become chilled, is just as big an issue, as it can cause diseases to take hold in a hive, thus the hive becoming weakened, thus also making it venerable to pests like SHB’s, Wax moths, etc.
Also there is an advantage of doing all that we can, to help the bees (we have) maintain a stable hive temps all year round, because the less work that they have to do that themselves, can equate to more honey that will be available for us, and of cause a happy beehive.
Oh by the way, I am planning to replace all the foundation-less frames in my hive, eg I have recently added a 2nd brood box, which has a different type of foundation in it. Then next spring (here in Australia), I’ll gradually remove any frames in the original brood box that have just honey stored in them, and replace them with the new frames too.
Nice piece of prose Buzzing-bees…experience gives one the skills to identify when the hive is stressed…and conversely when the hive has high moral. I try some new management strategy each year and observe the results…sometimes with the help of technology. At this time of year…late winter in northern Canada…stressors can end the life of a colony quickly. Like your shade setup, I have environmental modifications also in my wintering beehouse such as constant air circulation, heating and cooling controls and more recently humidity control.
And like you, I have always focused on the pending honey crop…this spring it’s the early willow/dandelion honey crop.
@Doug1 Doug, I feel that taking care of one’s bee hive is of great importance, one of the issues that I didn’t comment on was the financial outlay, and to loose my bees due to not taking proper care of them would be close to that of animal cruelty, and my wife wouldn’t be too happy with me either. When we start to get close to the start of winter, I will be setting up a 12V warming pad under my hive, to combat the heavy frosts that occurs here in winter. The digital thermometer that I have should help to tell me if the heater is keeping the hive at a reasonable temp on those cold nights. Then on those occasions that the sun is shining, the canvas top can be rolled up to the back, hopefully adding a little warmth for the bees, especially with the red roof that my hive has. I would also like to install an internal video camera, but not sure how it would work, the cost of doing so, and whether the bees might just cover it with Pollus if I try.
I missed out on getting any honey this season, as I didn’t get my bees until mid November last year, and I think that the young Queen may have been a bit slow at laying eggs, being her first year. I just hope that she isn’t just being lazy, as the number of bees still don’t seem to be at the full numbers that are usually found in a single brood (8 frame) box. I’ve added a 2nd brood box, and I’ll see if that helps getting her fired up, as we are having a great season, with above average rain through summer, so much so that the Australian gumtrees are currently having a 2nd flowering, my bees have access to a good size stand of gum trees, no more than 1 kilometre from their hive, so they are going flat out. I’m looking forward next week (with trepidation) to the next inspection day, to see if putting on the 2nd brood box has worked or not. The last 4 months have been a huge learning curve for me, and the beekeeper whom I bought my bees from, has been a great help, as has this forum. I was so excited the first time that I sighted my Queen bee, as previously I had never seen a Queen bee, ever. The above guy was at her unveiling too, and he said that she looked like she was very healthy
I am also very pleased at just how placid my bees are, as there is a Queen breeder not too far away, whom is concentrating on breeding Queens that are placid, and in my case he is certainly doing a great job. Even when I was setting up the shade, there was not even one bee tried to sting me, and that was without even using the smoker.
I have no use for aggressive bees…complicates beekeeping too much…and taking the fun out of it
@Doug1 Doug I certainly can’t disagree with you about that, past experience with aggressive bees (though I thought that was just natural bee haviour ), was what kept me away from getting involved with bees. Then I heard about the new concept of the Flow Hive, then about a local bee breeder, whom was involved with genetically breeding placid Queen bees. Then to top it off, the beekeeper whom I bought my nuc from had placed a Queen cell from that breeder into the nec I would eventually buy from him, and had already been mated beforehand, and oh wow is she placid, and hence so is my hive. I now have fallen head over turkey in love with my bees, not even once, since bringing the hive home, have I been stung by them, even while building the shade that I have made for them since their arrival, I even sit in front of the hive, and they just fly around me. I sit for hours, just watching their antics.
Get’s in your blood…can’t get it out…sorry 
@Doug1 “it gets in your blood…can’t get it out…sorry.” Don’t be sorry Doug, I don’t want to get it out, I’m hooked!!!
Trevor, I know what you mean, I could sit right next to my hive and watch their antics all day. They are so placid and not an aggressive bee in the hive. In fact, I would be sitting on our back deck and have had the occassional bee come up just to check out what we are up to.
@KSJ Karen, I have so far only been stung once by my bees, and that was on the day that I pick them up, and they were transferred from the sellers nuc into my brood box/base. That was totally understandable, as they were just having their little world turned upside down, and at that stage they also didn’t known this strange person whom there at the time, and stupid me, I didn’t have my bee suit on either, I sure did once bitten (twice shy) put it quickly on.
Now that they are settled into their (brand)new home, surrounds, and have gotten to know me, they are as good as gold, no I’d rather have them any day than gold!!!
Now they even have a 2 story home, as I have since added a 2nd BB. Though no flow box, as I was too late getting the nuc, so I’m not going take any honey from them, just focus on get them as strong as I can for winter, then fingers crossed that they will give me lots of honey this (2021) coming spring:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
Also my main purpose for getting my bees, was because there had been a very sudden (and large) reduction in the number of bees being seen around our place, fruit trees, veggies, and flowers. I have since found out that the hives of a local commercial beekeeper have been deliberately poisoned, so serious was the poisoning, that both the owner and his wife were even effected be the poison that was used, putting them both into hospital. So the honey, wasn’t my first priority anyway, but having the bees back was and still is my focus and that has been accomplished, and will be even bigger and better in the coming spring.
Hi techieg33k, what a horrible experience. I’m still a semi-newby so can’t offer much advice but I am curious why you’re avoiding wire in your frames? The few times we’ve harvested honey and comb the wire has provided a neat edge to run our knife along to cut the comb into neat strips ready for the jar. Maybe it’s worth running with wire until you get the hive back on its feet again? Good luck with the cleanup. Love that you’ve found a suit for your son!
From several different sources I have read where queens will usually avoid laying on a cell on top of or next to metal wire.
This year I plan to get all my current unused frames get the fishing line installed as that seems like a great balance between natural comb and support.
I figured that was because the dimensions of the cell get altered because of the course of the wire, not the material of the wire itself. So I don’t know if a different material would change anything.
In the grand scheme of things, those avoided cells don’t amount to very many and they may even get used for nectar or pollen, so not wasted.
It could alter the resonance. Bees like vibrations as part of their communications… 
I see a possible entomology PhD topic - The effects of alterations of in-hive resonance due to different frame reinforcement materials in Langstroth hives.
I’m sure they have controlled all other potential reasons for weird egg laying…
I have a story to share possibly on vibrations & resonance.
I used to sell colonies to folks on an exchange frames basis, as long as the frames were unused with fresh foundation fitted. After a while I stopped doing that. I upped the price to cover the frames I supply…Anyway.
I noticed that the bees made a huge mess on one side of one frame, the side that the bees started on first. I thought “what’s going on here”. Upon closer examination, I discovered that the person fitted 2 sheets of foundation, instead of 1. Then I thought back to what people say about vibrations & resonance. The extra sheet of foundation must have really upset the bees in their endeavors to achieve the resonance & vibration. I wish I took a photo of it.
It was just an unnamed person having a seniors moment, I guess.
cheers